St. Rose, SEIU ratify contract

Michelle Swafford

Friday, April 15, 2005 | 10:49 a.m.

St. Rose Dominican Hospitals management and the Service Employees International Union Local 1107 ratified a labor contract Thursday that will provide pensions and higher pay for more than 1,400 workers.

St. Rose Dominican Hospitals -- Rose de Lima and Siena campuses and the union issued a joint release today that says the agreement that runs through June 2006 will improve patient care and nurse retention through higher pay, the first pension in privately operated Las Vegas Valley hospitals and by establishing patient care committees of managers and staff.

"We are committed and excited to work in collaboration with SEIU and our employees to ensure a positive work environment and safe, high quality services for our patients," Rod Davis, Nevada market area president for St. Rose, said in a statement.

The contracts affect registered nurses, technicians, clerks, cafeteria workers and a host of other nonmanagement employees who voted in favor of the union Oct. 14.

A wage scale was established that provides pay increases for employees through 25 years of service. Employees will receive a minimum 4 percent pay raise now and another one that is at least 3 percent in October, SEIU Local 1107 Executive Director Jane McAlevey said.

More than 600 employees will receive greater raises to bring their pay up to the scale rates with some receiving a 50 percent increase, she said.

The agreement establishes a pension coupled with a 403(b) plan that offers enhanced employer matching and takes effect Jan. 1, McAlevey said.

Currently, employees have 401(a) and 403(b) plans, which are a combination of employee and employer contributions.

"That alone allows us the right to retire when we get to the age to retire," said Eric Taylor, a catheterization lab technologist for both St. Rose hospitals.

Everyone will benefit from the contracts including management and patients, he said.

"Our wages have gone up and the benefits have gone up (and) now we're invested in this hospital to see that this hospital continues its mission," he said. "Patients are going to win because they're going to see the quality of care go up. The management team, what they receive out of this -- it's easier to work with a group of people than each one of us individually."

An employer-funded training program was established for ongoing education, which is similar to what building-trade workers have through their unions, McAlevey said.

Toni Walsh, an intensive care registered nurse at the Siena campus, said she believes the agreement will raise the standard of care in the Las Vegas Valley.

"It's the only way we're going to be able to recruit and retain good staff," she said. "I think St. Rose is going to be the hospital everyone is going to want to work at."

She said money and benefits were employee desires, but it was more about equity in pay and benefits among the workers.

"When someone with the same amount of experience is making a lot less than you are that could be a big problem," Walsh said. "You have to be fair about it to be able to retain staff."

The SEIU also represents RNs at Clark County-owned University Medical Center; HCA Inc.-owned Sunrise Hospital & Medical Center; and Desert Springs Hospital and Valley Hospital Medical Center, both of which are owned by Universal Health Services Inc. The union also represents technicians at Desert Springs Hospital and health employees at Clark County Health District.

HCA Inc.-owned Southern Hills RNs and support workers voted in favor of SEIU representation last month and contract negotiations are scheduled to begin soon. Workers at sister hospital MountainView rejected union representation last month.