Palomar Pomerado Health District’s Technical, Service Workers Ratify Contract

Nearly 1,400 unionized technical and service workers at Palomar Pomerado Health District last week ratified a contract that would implement a 20% raise over three years, the San Diego Union-Tribune reports. According to an official with the Caregivers and Healthcare Employees Union, which represents the employees, about 93% of the workers approved the contract. The district's seven-member board is expected to approve the pact with the workers -- including technical, housekeeping, maintenance, hospital admissions, licensed vocational nursing and nursing assistant personnel -- July 14 (San Diego Union-Tribune, 7/3). Approximately $2.5 million in funding for the contract is included in the $328 million operating budget that the district's board of directors has approved for the new fiscal year. Another $5 million was budgeted for a contract with 725 registered nurses. In related news, the board also decided to increase hospital room daily rates by 8%, from $1,155 to $1,250 at its two hospitals, Poway-based Pomerado Hospital and Escondido-based Palomar Medical Center (Behrman, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7/3).