Sutter Roseville Medical Center Continues Contract Negotiations with Service Workers
Negotiations between Sutter Roseville Medical Center and the union representing about 450 of the hospital's service and mechanical workers continued yesterday, while the worker's current contract is set to expire on Saturday, the Sacramento Bee reports. Last week, the workers, represented by Service Employees International Union Local 250, voted to authorize the union to serve Sutter with a strike notice if negotiators fail to reach an agreement. Hospital officials and union representatives remain "at odds" over salary increases and health benefits, the Bee reports. Union officials say that Sutter Roseville's wages for its service workers fall short of the wages established at other local hospitals owned by Kaiser Permanente and Mercy Healthcare, the Bee reports. John Borsos, SEIU hospital division director, said, "The industry standard for wages and benefits in Sacramento has changed, and Sutter is not keeping up with the times." Barbara Nelson, chief nursing executive for Sutter Roseville, said, "We do look at the local market. It certainly influences the package we put on the table, but it can't be the sole driver." The two sides have four more bargaining sessions scheduled through Nov. 13, and both are expected to "abide by the current contract" until a compromise is reached, the Bee reports (Rapaport, Sacramento Bee, 11/1).
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