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UPTE Health Care Professionals Make Big Gains
Health care professionals at five medical centers of the University of California won their first contract, addressing major concerns about quality and patient care issues and winning a package of wage and benefit improvements.
The agreement covers some 1,700 members of University Professional and Technical Employees/CWA Local 9119 who work as clinical lab technologists, pharmacists, clinical social workers, audiologists, radiologists, nuclear medicine technicians, dieticians and in other professions.
The contract establishes a professional practices committee which enables health care employees to meet on company time to address such issues as patient care, health care practices, staffing, workplace safety and health, and licensing, then present their findings to the administration. "This committee enables members to initiate action and discussion with the administration on key patient care and workplace issues," said Cliff Fried, UPTE executive vice president and a staff researcher at UCLA.
The three-year contract provides for wage increases ranging from 4 percent to 11 percent for the first two years of the agreement, with wages to be re-opened for bargaining in the contract's last year. It provides across the board increases for most employees, plus range adjustments that increase the wage scales. The increases vary across the five medical center campuses.
Other improvements include a guarantee of 40 hours' paid leave for education and professional development; doubling the layoff notice to 60 days; an increase from one to six days of holiday premium pay; protections and advance notice for employees regarding performance evaluations; a requirement that the hospital undertake ergonomic studies when requested; and rest periods between shifts.
Fried credited the bargaining team and the support and mobilization of members with making a big difference in winning the contract. "This first contract sets the floor for all our future gains, and it's a great achievement. With our contract, we expect to further build our membership and have the voice we need for patients and employees," he said.
CWA District 9 Vice President Tony Bixler credited the bargaining committees and staff who worked to negotiate all three contracts with the university this year, covering health care, researchers, and technical employees throughout the UC system.
The agreement covers some 1,700 members of University Professional and Technical Employees/CWA Local 9119 who work as clinical lab technologists, pharmacists, clinical social workers, audiologists, radiologists, nuclear medicine technicians, dieticians and in other professions.
The contract establishes a professional practices committee which enables health care employees to meet on company time to address such issues as patient care, health care practices, staffing, workplace safety and health, and licensing, then present their findings to the administration. "This committee enables members to initiate action and discussion with the administration on key patient care and workplace issues," said Cliff Fried, UPTE executive vice president and a staff researcher at UCLA.
The three-year contract provides for wage increases ranging from 4 percent to 11 percent for the first two years of the agreement, with wages to be re-opened for bargaining in the contract's last year. It provides across the board increases for most employees, plus range adjustments that increase the wage scales. The increases vary across the five medical center campuses.
Other improvements include a guarantee of 40 hours' paid leave for education and professional development; doubling the layoff notice to 60 days; an increase from one to six days of holiday premium pay; protections and advance notice for employees regarding performance evaluations; a requirement that the hospital undertake ergonomic studies when requested; and rest periods between shifts.
Fried credited the bargaining team and the support and mobilization of members with making a big difference in winning the contract. "This first contract sets the floor for all our future gains, and it's a great achievement. With our contract, we expect to further build our membership and have the voice we need for patients and employees," he said.
CWA District 9 Vice President Tony Bixler credited the bargaining committees and staff who worked to negotiate all three contracts with the university this year, covering health care, researchers, and technical employees throughout the UC system.