SEIU, hospitals reach tentative settlement; strike notice withdrawn

Service Employees International Union Local 113 and Twin Cities hospitals have reached agreement on a new package and the union has withdrawn its notice for a May 20 strike.

The union and management reached the new agreement after an extended mediation session with Jeanne Frank of the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service, the union said. The union will present it to 5,900 members for a vote on Monday, May 19, and Tuesday, May 20.

The new offer includes several key improvements over management’s “final offer” of March 27, the union said. It will reduce by 25 percent the cost of single coverage for hospital workers, with the employer picking up 85 percent of the premium cost instead of the current 80 percent. The hospitals also withdrew their demand for a $900 cap on the employer portion of family coverage premiums.

The union withdrew its notice for a one-day strike May 20 at eight Twin Cities health care facilities. The walkout would have involved nearly 3,000 workers — the largest action yet in a series of “rolling” one-day strikes designed to put pressure on the hospitals. Previous walkouts have occurred at Mercy, United, St. Paul Children’s, Fairview-Riverside and Fairview-Southdale Hospitals and Community Linen Services.

“Our members held strong both on the job and on the picketline,” said Local 113 President Julie Schnell. “Since the employer ‘final offer’ our members’ activism forced them to make serious improvements . . . Compared to previous contracts, this offer has major improvements in health care, pensions and pay.”

Local 113 negotiating team members expressed pride in their ability to pressure management for change. But they said more work remains.

“We still have a long way to go because too many health care workers still will not have health care,” said Brad Weisz, a Local 113 member at Children’s Hospital. “But now that we know how strong we can be working together, I think we will get there.”

Related article

Health care workers announce massive one-day strike

For more information

Visit the SEIU Local 113 website, www.seiu113.org

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