Nearly 150 mental health workers at Community Psychiatric Clinic are proud members of SEIU Healthcare 1199NW.

SEIU Healthcare 1199NW members at CPC have ratified a contract that gives us 12% across-the-board wage increases this year and next (6% retroactive to July 1, 2007 and another 6% July 1, 2008).

This contract represents a significant break from the past, where we saw across-the-board wage increases of only 1-2½%. The wage increases reflect our victory earlier this year in getting the state Legislature to allocate $24.5 million to improve the wages of community mental health workers across the state. CPC will get over $1 million in these funds as a result of our lobbying efforts.

Every phone call that we made, postcard or letter we sent, and personal visit to a politician added to our effort.

We congratulate CPC on settling a fair contract with us that will help the agency recruit and retain quality staff in the years ahead.

12% raise over two years (plus our anniversary raises)   Contract expiration of 3/31/09 -- common expiration With 1,100 community mental health workers so we can lobby the Legislature in 2009 for additional resources to improve client services and working conditions   65 employer-paid Mental Health Advocacy Days -- We will have paid days off to lobby for improvements to community mental health   Greater cooperation from CPC for us to pursue licensure, including oversight by the Labor Management Committee    Stronger language ensuring issues will get resolved in the Labor Management Committee