140 mental health workers at West Seattle Psychiatric Hospital are proud members of SEIU Healthcare 1199NW.
We ratified our new contract at West Seattle Psychiatric Hospital by a 98% margin on November 27. Our new contract marks a significant step in improving recruitment and retention at WSPH. We won significant raises, improvements to health and dental insurance, and the groundwork for a stronger relationship with management on key issues relating to the health and safety of our workers.
David Parker, RN
This contract makes significant improvements for all WSPH employees, and gives us the chance to do it again in 2009.”
Our success in lobbying for more funding in Olympia – our phone calls, post cards, and personal visits – made this contract possible. While huge gains were made, we are not at the finish line. We need to continue to improve mental health funding and will be active at the county and state level in getting more improvements in place. We congratulate WSPH management on negotiating a fair contract that will help the hospital recruit and retain staff.
Our SEIU 1199NW Bargaining and Legislative Leadership Team - Jason Madrano, MHS evening
- Imelda Miles, RN night
- David Parker, RN evening
- Denise Reaney, MHS night
- Derrick Brown, MHS night
What We Won - Total across-the-board increase of 11.5%
- 5.75% Across the board increase, Effective: 7/1/2007 (retroactive)
- 5.75% Across the board increase, Effective: 7/1/2008
- 100% employer-paid health coverage for employees guaranteed for the life of the contract --retroactive to 4/1/07
- Dependent medical coverage --Employer subsidy of $125/month, increased to $140/month on 4/1/08
- New dental plan: Effective 4/1/08, Employer pays 100% of employee premium (Replaces reimbursement plan)
- Common Expiration --3/31/09 --with 1,100 other community mental health workers across the state
- 55 paid Mental Health Advocacy days so we can advocate for better services, funding
- Employees injured on the job retain their full seniority and right to return to work, no matter how long the injury
- Staffing for line-of-sight clients will be a standing issue on the Joint Labor and Management Committee agenda. All workers are encouraged to share their experiences with management and work with your union Delegates to improve staffing on nights with LoSs
- Through Labor Management Committee, we can propose and discuss changes to the policies preventing us from using respite days on weekends
Getting Our New Contracts Management is drafting the new contract with all the changes we just negotiated. After we receive their draft, we will check it for accuracy and then get it signed and printed. As soon as we have the contracts printed, we will distribute copies to everyone.