New Agreement Ratified by Members at Methodist Medical Center

Three-Year Agreement Brings Raises and Protects Health Benefits

SEIU Local 205 members at Methodist Medical Center in Oak Ridge demonstrated their solidarity by voting to ratify the extension of their contract, which was recommended by the union's bargaining committee.  The vote involved approval of the tentative agreement reached with Management on salary and health insurance articles, and left all other discussions off the table.

"This is a win-win for all parties," says Shanella Hawkins, LPN, and first time negotiator. "We protected the health insurance benefits, and won an increase in wages for everyone." The contract is a three-year agreement and bumps all wages an immediate 1.5% of base salary each year, plus a .5% bonus of gross earnings which will be paid around Christmas. "That includes shift diff, weekend diff, and any other taxable income for each employee," adds Candy Cox, RN.

As expected, insurance costs did increase this year. "We haven’t had a significant insurance increase in five years," says Ann Warwick, a CNA who is another first time bargaining team member. "But we bargained protections in the agreement that guarantee no full-time employee would be negative between insurance increases and wages. We’re proud of that."  "We kept the same plan we have, with NO increases in deductibles and out of pocket maximums, says Mary Neubauer, an RN.  "In an economy where many people are struggling to afford health insurance, we are keeping everything we have won in the past."

The agreement and wage increase will become effective October 10th of this year, and is a three-year contract.