Wareham, Mass. (September 23, 2015) – Workers at Tobey Hospital, a part of Southcoast Health System, are calling for hospital executives to agree to a third party arbitration to resolve a longstanding contract dispute with Southcoast Health System management.
The next negotiating session is slated to begin at 2:00 p.m. EST this afternoon.
New data show that the Southcoast Hospitals Group continues to be profitable, even as executives press for damaging measures that would harm workers, such as wage freezes and benefit reductions. Citing the refusal of management to modify their demands for benefit reductions and wage freezes, caregivers are taking their campaign to the next level.
“We’re just trying to make sure we can feed our families, pay our bills, and feel valued at our jobs,” said Rebecca Willis, a Laboratory Secretary at Tobey Hospital. “We know that Southcoast Health System can offer more; it’s time for executives to do the right thing.”
That’s why hospital workers who are members of the state’s largest healthcare union, 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East, are beginning a new advertisement blitz this week, taking to the airwaves with a message asking Southcoast Health System management to rescind their proposals for wage freezes and decreased benefits.
“Hospital workers want to focus 100% on the patient,” reads one of the radio advertisements healthcare workers will begin airing this week (available here). “They shouldn’t have to worry about unfair cuts to their own healthcare – or where their child’s next meal is coming from because of poverty pay.”
A recent financial briefing for the Southcoast bondholders reveals that the system had a “solid profit” of $2.8 million in just the third quarter[1]. In FY 2015, revenue was up 10% from 2014, driven by improved inpatient volumes, increases in pharmacy revenues, and growth in revenues from the Physicians Group. According to that same report, the Southcoast Hospitals Group also posted $55.2m in operating profit over the first three quarters of FY15.
Over the course of negotiations, hospital workers have made reasonable proposals for: modest wage increases, including for those currently earning below a living wage; maintaining current hospital contributions to 403B retirement savings plan; and securing current vacation benefits.
Meanwhile, despite its profitability, executives have continued to insist on wage freezes, elimination of some 403B contributions and arbitrary vacation benefit restrictions. Additionally, Southcoast Executives have yet to respond to proposed legislation, sponsored by 1199SEIU, which could allocate an up to an additional $2 million annually to Southcoast hospitals.
As Tobey workers continue to push for improvements in Wareham, workers at St. Luke’s Hospital in New Bedford and Charlton Hospital in Fall River, also part of the Southcoast Health System network, have expressed increasing interest in joining 1199SEIU.
[1] Executive Summary of Southcoast Health Financial Briefing Fiscal Year 2015; Nine Months Ending June 2015
# # #
Representing more than 52,000 healthcare workers throughout Massachusetts and nearly 400,000 workers across the East Coast, 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East is the largest and fastest-growing healthcare union in America. Our mission is to achieve affordable, high quality healthcare for all. 1199SEIU is part of the 2.1 million member Service Employees International Union.
The next negotiating session is slated to begin at 2:00 p.m. EST this afternoon.
New data show that the Southcoast Hospitals Group continues to be profitable, even as executives press for damaging measures that would harm workers, such as wage freezes and benefit reductions. Citing the refusal of management to modify their demands for benefit reductions and wage freezes, caregivers are taking their campaign to the next level.
“We’re just trying to make sure we can feed our families, pay our bills, and feel valued at our jobs,” said Rebecca Willis, a Laboratory Secretary at Tobey Hospital. “We know that Southcoast Health System can offer more; it’s time for executives to do the right thing.”
That’s why hospital workers who are members of the state’s largest healthcare union, 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East, are beginning a new advertisement blitz this week, taking to the airwaves with a message asking Southcoast Health System management to rescind their proposals for wage freezes and decreased benefits.
“Hospital workers want to focus 100% on the patient,” reads one of the radio advertisements healthcare workers will begin airing this week (available here). “They shouldn’t have to worry about unfair cuts to their own healthcare – or where their child’s next meal is coming from because of poverty pay.”
A recent financial briefing for the Southcoast bondholders reveals that the system had a “solid profit” of $2.8 million in just the third quarter[1]. In FY 2015, revenue was up 10% from 2014, driven by improved inpatient volumes, increases in pharmacy revenues, and growth in revenues from the Physicians Group. According to that same report, the Southcoast Hospitals Group also posted $55.2m in operating profit over the first three quarters of FY15.
Over the course of negotiations, hospital workers have made reasonable proposals for: modest wage increases, including for those currently earning below a living wage; maintaining current hospital contributions to 403B retirement savings plan; and securing current vacation benefits.
Meanwhile, despite its profitability, executives have continued to insist on wage freezes, elimination of some 403B contributions and arbitrary vacation benefit restrictions. Additionally, Southcoast Executives have yet to respond to proposed legislation, sponsored by 1199SEIU, which could allocate an up to an additional $2 million annually to Southcoast hospitals.
As Tobey workers continue to push for improvements in Wareham, workers at St. Luke’s Hospital in New Bedford and Charlton Hospital in Fall River, also part of the Southcoast Health System network, have expressed increasing interest in joining 1199SEIU.
[1] Executive Summary of Southcoast Health Financial Briefing Fiscal Year 2015; Nine Months Ending June 2015
# # #
Representing more than 52,000 healthcare workers throughout Massachusetts and nearly 400,000 workers across the East Coast, 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East is the largest and fastest-growing healthcare union in America. Our mission is to achieve affordable, high quality healthcare for all. 1199SEIU is part of the 2.1 million member Service Employees International Union.
