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October 1, 2015
By John Quinn, LaborPress USA
Cape Cod, MA – 1199SEIU has successfully negotiated raises for nearly 2,000 Cape Cod healthcare workers. Staff of Cape Cod Healthcare including clinical social workers, clinicians, professional and technical employees, clerical employees, service employees and maintenance workers will be gaining a generous package of benefit and pay increases.
The contracts will provide a 2 percent raise each year for the three-year agreement. Some workers at Cape Cod Hospital and Falmouth Hospital will likely see greater increases. Low-wage workers will get a "much needed" pathway to $15 per hour.
Many workers are also receiving better benefits. Some will see a dip in the cost of healthcare. Crucial training and education benefits will be maintained. At Falmouth Hospital, additional payments will be made to employees with degrees related to their jobs–a practice that is already followed at Cape Cod Hospital. Clinicians with Cape Cod Human Services will also receive a first-time benefit–earned time-off. Fee-for-service clinicians will now be able to accumulate time off and be able to take time off without the fear of lost wages.
The union members voted to ratify the agreements this month. "Workers strongly support these agreements, which demonstrate that Cape Cod Healthcare is recognizing that a living wage and quality benefits are integral components to building strong hospitals and providing great patient care," Said Jerry Fishbein, Vice President of 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East.
