Hospital workers today delivered a ?reject petition? to the attorney representing five Twin Cities hospital systems in contract negotiations. An overwhelming majority of SEIU Local 113 members signed the petition to reject the hospitals? contract proposal because it failed to address important issues, including affordable health insurance and improving quality patient care.

?Our number one concern is providing quality care for our patients, our families and our communities,? said Brad Weisz, who works at Children?s Hospital in Minneapolis. ?The hospitals? proposal would make it harder to provide the best for the patients in our care. This is about more than labor and management. This is a community issue and it?s a moral issue.?

Twice as many SEIU Local 113 members signed this petition to reject the contract proposal than voted on the last contract in 2003. Members say the contract proposal does not address the issues most important in their hospitals, like affordable health insurance for workers and improving quality patient care.

?Health insurance is so expensive now that we?ve had to make some tough decisions, including refinancing our home,? said Geri Weitzel, who works at the Fairview Riverside campus of the University of Minnesota Medical Center. ?There?s something wrong when those of us who work for a living are being faced with these decisions while those at the top are pulling in $400 an hour.?

More than 3,300 hospital workers began working without a contract on March 10 when five Twin Cities hospital systems, including Fairview, HealthEast, North Memorial, Children?s and Methodist, illegally declared bargaining at an impasse and walked away from negotiations on March 9. Unfair Labor Practice charges are pending with the National Labor Relations Board.

Meanwhile, Allina and SEIU Local 113 recently agreed to a new contract and strategic alliance that includes a commitment to moving toward full employer-paid health insurance and engages workers in the decision-making process on important issues like patient care, staffing and equipment.

?Allina sets an example for all employers,? said Julie Schnell, president of SEIU Local 113, which represents more than 6,000 hospital workers across the Twin Cities. ?These hospital systems should work with their employees, instead of against them, to provide affordable health insurance and to improve patient care in our hospitals,? said Schnell.

Source-SEIU Local 113