VALLEJO, Calif., Dec. 1 /PRNewswire/ -- Sutter Solano released the following statement from Interim CEO, Terry Glubka in response to SEIU Local 250’s call for a strike at SSMC on December 1st.
“Sutter Solano is committed to providing our employees competitive wages and benefits. It is unfortunate union leaders are asking our housekeeping staff, cafeteria workers medical transcriptionists, surgical technicians, nursing aides and other Local 250 represented employees to strike, rather than choosing to meet with us or calling for a vote on our competitive offer. We are proud of the generous, final offer we have proposed to our employees that includes:
-- 12% across the board wage increases for all employees over a three-year period. -- An additional 5% (first-year) increase for Surgical Techs and 2% for Medical Transcriptionists to keep their pay competitive. -- New, Higher Wages for Step 1, to help recruit quality employees. -- Continued 100% paid health, dental and vision insurance options for employees and their families. -- New seasonal bonuses for Licensed Vocational Nurses ranging from $100-$150 per shift to help fill shifts. -- New, Enhanced Choices for Retirement. -- New Retiree Health Care Spending Account valued at up to $25,000. -- Up to $1,000 in Tuition Costs paid directly by the medical center every year.
“Clearly, this strike is not about improving the wages and benefits of our employees. And, it certainly is not about “nurse staffing ratios” -- which the hospital has complied with since they became law in January.
“Instead it is about the union’s statewide agenda to secure a ‘master contract’ with all Sutter hospitals. We have consistently told union leaders we are a local employer, with a local decision making board. We do not believe a single contract with several hospitals is in the best interest of our employees, our patients or our community. It is unfortunate that union leaders have deliberately delayed progress on our contract and well-deserved wage increases for our employees -- just so they can advocate for a master contract that would make it easier for the union to grow membership at other hospitals.
“We are encouraging our employees to act in their own self-interest and come to work on December 1st, but we will be prepared to preserve continuity of care in the event some employees choose to participate in the strike. We have contracted with qualified replacement workers who will ensure care for existing and new patients is not disrupted.
We thank the community in advance for their patience during this unfortunate and unnecessary union-called strike. Our priority during the strike will continue to be providing all patients the quality care they expect from Sutter Solano.”
Sutter Solano Medical Center
CONTACT: Janice Hoss of Sutter Solano Medical Center, +1-707-554-5094
Web site: http://www.sutterhealth.org/