The following is a roundup of recent events pertaining to hospital-union relationships, including strikes, legal battles, rallies and new contract agreements. All events were reported since April 1, beginning with the most recent.
1. Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital-Plymouth workers ratify new contract: 6 things to know
Healthcare workers at Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital-Plymouth (Mass.), represented by 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East, ratified a new contract with management, the union said. The three-year contract covers approximately 900 hospital workers, including physical therapists, radiology technicians, laboratory technicians, housekeeping staff, dietary staff, certified nursing assistants, maintenance and janitorial staff and clerical staff.
2. Prime Healthcare reaches labor agreements with 3 Saint Michael's unions: 5 things to know
Ontario, Calif.-based Prime Healthcare Services reached agreements with three labor unions that represent employees at Saint Michael's Medical Center in Newark, N.J. The agreements cover more than 780 of the hospital's approximately 1,400 employees. Employees covered by the agreements are represented by District 1199J, Operating Engineers Local 68 and JNESO.
3. Stanford Health Care, Lucile Packard reach tentative union agreement covering more than 3,000 RNs
Stanford (Calif.) Health Care and Lucile Packard Children's Hospital Stanford (Calif.) reached a tentative agreement with the Committee for Recognition of Nursing Achievement on new three-year agreements covering more than 3,000 registered nurses working at the hospitals. CRONA, which represents the workers, and its bargaining team are unanimously recommending ratification of the tentative agreement. A ratification vote will be held on May 11.
4. PeaceHealth workers in Oregon ratify 1st union contract: 4 things to know
More than 1,000 PeaceHealth workers at Sacred Heart Medical Center at Riverbend in Springfield, Ore., and Sacred Heart Medical Center, University District in Eugene, Ore., ratified their first union contract, according to The Register-Guard. The contract covers cooks, housekeepers, certified nursing assistants and other workers, all represented by Service Employees International Union Local 49.
5. Maintenance workers picket at Mayo Clinic Health System in Albert Lea: 4 things to know
Dozens of maintenance workers, represented by SEIU Healthcare Minnesota, picketed April 18 outside Mayo Clinic Health System in Albert Lea (Minn.), according to a MinnPost report. The picket was to highlight proposals brought forward by Mayo during contract negotiations.
6. Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center workers agree to new union contract: 4 things to know
Workers at Niagara Falls (N.Y.) Memorial Medical Center, represented by 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East, reached a contract agreement with management April 13, according to a WIVB report. The agreement covers 620 staff members, including nurses, maintenance workers and technicians, at the hospital.
7. St. Joseph Hospital, Redwood Memorial Hospital workers strike contract agreement with management: 5 things to know
Employees at St. Joseph Hospital in Eureka, Calif., and Redwood Memorial Hospital in Fortuna, Calif., reached a contract agreement with management. The employees, represented by the National Union of Healthcare Workers, voted 98 percent to ratify the agreement, the union said. The agreement covers 425 service and technical workers, including nursing assistants, nutrition services workers, registration specialists, housekeepers, lab assistants, lift and monitor technicians, respiratory therapists, emergency technicians, pharmacy technicians and imaging technologists.
8. Dozens of UPMC workers join strikes, rallies in Pittsburgh
Dozens of workers at UPMC facilities joined a day of strikes and rallies April 14, in unity with workers across Pittsburgh and the country who were protesting for higher minimum wages and greater union rights, according to a Pittsburgh Post-Gazette report. The protests took place about two weeks after UPMC announced it will increase minimum starting salaries for entry-level positions at most Pittsburgh facilities to $15 an hour by January 2021.
9. Einstein Medical Center nurses vote to unionize
Registered nurses at Einstein Medical Center in Philadelphia voted April 8 to join the Pennsylvania Association of Staff Nurses and Allied Professionals, according to a Philadelphia Business Journal report. The vote was 463 to 343 in favor of unionization.
10. Columbia Memorial Health, union reach contract agreement: 4 things to know Hudson, N.Y.-based Columbia Memorial Health and 1199SEIU, which represents more than 800 of the health system's 1,400 workers, reached a contract agreement. The contract affects 207 registered nurses and 612 direct caregivers, professional and technical workers, and service and maintenance employees.
11. NLRB will prosecute Nathan Littauer Hospital over locked out nurses
The National Labor Relations Board decided to prosecute Gloversville, N.Y.-based Nathan Littauer Hospital over its decision to lock out nurses for four days, according to a Times Union report. The lockout took place after registered nurses held a one-day strike at the hospital in January.
12. Huron Valley-Sinai Hospital nurses vote to unionize
Nurses at Huron Valley-Sinai Hospital in Commerce, Mich., voted to join the Michigan Nurses Association. The nurses, more than 350 in all, include full-time, part-time and contingent nurses.