Why are so many hospital employees forming unions?
To solve problems like short staffing; gain a voice on the job; improve pay and benefits; and stand up for quality patient care.
As cost-cutting, managed
care, and hospital mergers dramatically change the way health care
works, growing numbers of hospital employees are improving their jobs
by joining together in unions. Here are the top five reasons:
A voice on the job. A
union gives those of us who actually do the work a say in how the
hospital operates. Instead of simply reacting to arbitrary decisions
coming from management, we can work together to solve problems and
influence policies that affect our professions and our patients.
Better staffing and quality care. Through
our unions, hospital employees negotiate better staffing guidelines and
more reasonable workloads, preserve professional standards, and stand
up for quality patient care. For instance: SEIU members at Providence
St. Joseph's Hospital CNAs have contract language that says they care
for 9 patients or less on day shift.
Higher pay and regular raises.
Joining a union means guaranteed rewards for hard work and a pay system
that recognizes longevity and the cost of living. For instance, SEIU
members at Kaiser received a minimum of 19% raise in their last
contract.
Benefits we can count on.
Together, union members negotiate benefits like fully paid employer
health insurance, pensions, vacation, and sick leave-and they're
guaranteed in writing. At Kaiser, SEIU members with 20 years of
seniority earn 31 days of paid vacation and holidays, in addition to 12
days of sick leave per year.
Job security and representation. A
union brings fair procedures and security to a hospital. It allows
employees to speak out about solutions to problems on the job without
fear of retaliation, and to have a say when cost-cutting,
contracting-out, and other decisions are considered. Unions are
America's way of making sure workers have a voice-on the job and in the
delivery of health care. Having a union helps to balance the growing
power of health care corporations while protecting quality care.
Joining a Health Care Union | Just the Facts