1199SEIU Florida Members Lead Contract Negotiations With Tenet Healthcare For Better Pay, Benefits, and Staffing At Palm Beach Gardens & St. Mary’s Medical Centers

May 15, 2025

tenet contract negotiations 2.11.25.jpgBargaining committee members of 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East at Palm Beach Gardens Medical Center (PBGMC) and St. Mary’s Medical Center (SMMC) have made strong proposals to Tenet for significantly improved pay, PTO, wage equity, staffing and more.

The proposals would offer more support for both workers and patients and reduce turnover at the major Palm Beach County medical centers. Key elements workers are advocating to include are wage scales that recognize years of experience, a major step forward in lifting pay, rewarding experience and retaining talented caregivers and other staff.

“Turnover and retention have become a big issue ,” said Abagail Tucker, an RN at PBGMC. “Our pay increases need to be bigger to retain experienced caregivers that our patients rely on. We need to be competitive and keep up with the rest of the community.”

Other proposals include increased PTO accrual rates, differentials, ancillary on-call and back pay, and commitments from the hospitals to maintain minimum caregiver-to-patient staffing ratios based on patient acuity,.

“If you’re not compensating people based on experience, they will go elsewhere,” said Marie Hunt an RN at SMMC. “They know that their skills and experience are valuable.”

Karim Gebahi, a Respiratory Therapist at SMMC, urges all his co-workers to attend bargaining. “Make yourself heard. Don’t stand down. Fight for what’s right,” he says. “You’re here saving lives, doing something that matters and that should count for something.”

Workers at PBMC and SMMC who wish to attend negotiations or learn more may visit: bit.ly/tenetnegotiations25.