After nine months of negotiations, workers at Allina-owned St. Francis Regional Medical Center gained wages on par with other metro area hospital workers when they ratified their first-ever contract.
The agreement, ratified Friday, also provides improved workplace safety standards and maintains current health insurance for more than 250 members of Service Employees International Union Local 113.
"Nine months of hard work has finally paid off," said Allison Korus, a pharmacy technician and member of the negotiating committee. "We made significant gains in wages, maintained current health insurance rates and ensured higher standards for workplace safety ? we are very pleased."
St. Francis employees were negotiating for wages comparable to other metro area hospitals workers.
"St. Francis charges taxpayers the same rates for services as other metro hospitals, but did not pay comparable wages," said Korus. "It's about time that the workers who make this hospital great are treated with the same respect."
Included among the improvements in the contract are:
-- First-ever agreement for guaranteed wages, benefits and workplace standards.
-- Wages increased to levels comparable with other metro area hospital workers, with increases for some workers as high as 27 percent.
-- Guaranteed Paid Time Off (PTO) for all workers, including part-time and casual workers.
-- Commitment from Allina Hospitals & Clinics to provide a workplace free of abuse and disrespectful behavior.
-- Inclusion of St. Francis employees in the hospital's Environment of Care Committee, which sets the course for patient care decisions.
More than 250 workers at St. Francis voted to join Local 113 on Sept. 30, 2004. Negotiations on their first-ever contract began in January and a tentative agreement was reached on Sept. 21. The contract was ratified exactly one year after workers voted to join the union.
"We have been working for more than a year to get here," said Maria Wolf, a health information service specialist at St. Francis. "By standing together, we were able to accomplish great things that will make St. Francis an even better hospital."
"This contract will help us to improve upon the quality care we have always provided at St. Francis and to continue as one of the top 100 hospitals in the nation," said Gwen Relander, a health unit coordinator and member of the negotiating team.
Share
After nine months of negotiations, workers at Allina-owned St. Francis Regional Medical Center gained wages on par with other metro area hospital workers when they ratified their first-ever contract.
The agreement, ratified Friday, also provides improved workplace safety standards and maintains current health insurance for more than 250 members of Service Employees International Union Local 113.
“Nine months of hard work has finally paid off,” said Allison Korus, a pharmacy technician and member of the negotiating committee. “We made significant gains in wages, maintained current health insurance rates and ensured higher standards for workplace safety ? we are very pleased.”
St. Francis employees were negotiating for wages comparable to other metro area hospitals workers.
“St. Francis charges taxpayers the same rates for services as other metro hospitals, but did not pay comparable wages,” said Korus. “It’s about time that the workers who make this hospital great are treated with the same respect.”
Included among the improvements in the contract are:
— First-ever agreement for guaranteed wages, benefits and workplace standards.
— Wages increased to levels comparable with other metro area hospital workers, with increases for some workers as high as 27 percent.
— Guaranteed Paid Time Off (PTO) for all workers, including part-time and casual workers.
— Commitment from Allina Hospitals & Clinics to provide a workplace free of abuse and disrespectful behavior.
— Inclusion of St. Francis employees in the hospital’s Environment of Care Committee, which sets the course for patient care decisions.
More than 250 workers at St. Francis voted to join Local 113 on Sept. 30, 2004. Negotiations on their first-ever contract began in January and a tentative agreement was reached on Sept. 21. The contract was ratified exactly one year after workers voted to join the union.
“We have been working for more than a year to get here,” said Maria Wolf, a health information service specialist at St. Francis. “By standing together, we were able to accomplish great things that will make St. Francis an even better hospital.”
“This contract will help us to improve upon the quality care we have always provided at St. Francis and to continue as one of the top 100 hospitals in the nation,” said Gwen Relander, a health unit coordinator and member of the negotiating team.