Feb 5, 2019 2 min read

Union service workers at Washington Hospital ratified a new three-year contract Monday, which calls for 5 percent raises over the life of the pact.

“Washington Hospital has been serving our community for more than a century, and we want to make sure our patients continue to receive high quality care from dedicated caregivers for decades to come,” said Sally Berdine, president of the Service Employees International Union Healthcare Pennsylvania chapter, and 24-year employee at Washington Hospital. “This contract makes new investments in the staff that have worked here for years, while we are simultaneously reinvesting in Washington Health System by coming to the hospital and affiliated doctors for all our health care needs.”

Berdine added that having longtime employees in the hospital would be a benefit for patients who are receiving care there.

The contract covers close to 350 employees. The average salary of an employee in the union is about $16 per hour, Berdine said. In addition to raises, employees will maintain their overtime and holiday pay, accrue additional weeks of vacation sooner, and see their tuition reimbursement double.

The union represents workers in the maintenance, housekeeping and dietary units, as well as unit secretaries, who make up about a quarter of the health system’s payroll.

The contract also moves all covered employees into a home host health insurance plan. Employees will need to go to Washington Health System doctors and facilities for any services the system offers, while still giving employees the ability to go to other facilities for specialty care the system doesn’t offer. Most employees will actually see a reduction in their health care costs with the new plan in the first year.

“We’re pleased with this contract, and we’re glad that we can work together with management to improve our hospital,” said Berdine. “At a time when hospitals like ours are being gobbled up by larger health systems, we’re proud that we’ve been able to stay independent and be a source of both good jobs and quality care for our community.”

Hospital officials did not elaborate on the contract. The health system issued a statement merely noting that a deal had been reached and it would last through Jan. 31, 2022.

The previous contract was reached in February 2016 after the union voted to issue a 10-day strike notice.