SEIU-UHW Eyes Care Quality in New Contract Negotiations

On Tuesday, Service Employees International Union-United Healthcare Workers West began contract negotiations with Catholic Healthcare West with a focus on improving quality of care. The union represents more than 15,000 employees at 32 CHW hospitals in California. SEIU-UHW's platform, called "Let's Get Healthy California," aims to reduce chronic diseases by working with Gov. Jerry Brown (D) and the Legislature to adopt new state policies; recruit and train 25,000 new health care workers; and organize 10,000 health care workers and community partners to launch a statewide campaign to boost wellness, coordinate care and improve health education. The union plans to use the same approach when it begins negotiations with Kaiser Permanente, Sutter Health and other not-for-profit health care systems next year.

• "Health Care Workers Union Launches Quality of Care Initiative" (Robertson, Sacramento Business Journal, 11/16).
• "Union Representing San Bernardino Health Care Workers Takes New Approach to Labor Talks" (Steinberg, San Bernardino Sun, 11/16).