The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
Mercy support staff hold informational picket
Mercy Health officials are demanding too many concessions from support workers at its Lorain facility, according to the union representing the staff.
Hospital workers and leaders of the Service Employees International Union District (SEIU) 1199 held an informational picket Oct. 6 outside the hospital, 3700 Kolbe Road.
The work contract for about 350 local support workers, including maintenance, housekeeping, dietary and clerical staff, expired Sept. 30, said Bob Gascoigne, an electrician and executive member of the SEIU unit.
They continue to work under terms of the old agreement, Gascoigne said. The union already has rejected one contract offer, he said.
The negotiations are expected to continue later this month, possibly in two weeks, but an exact date was not set as of Oct. 6, Gascoigne said.
The workers and management have agreed on some provisions, Gascoigne said.
“We just don’t see the sense in making all the concessions,” he said.
In a speech to the workers and their supporters, SEIU District 1199 President Becky Williams said the group of workers collectively earn about $10 million a year, while just six top officials at Cincinnatibased Catholic Healthcare Partners are paid about $9 million.
“Tell me, sisters and brothers, is that right?” Williams asked. “No,” the crowd replied. According to the SEIU District 1199, the main concerns for workers are:
• The elimination of step increases within the wage scale that would cut more than $325,000 from worker salaries over the life of the contract
• The elimination of paid sick time, which would cut nearly $1,800 from each worker in sick time during the contract
• Changes to workers’ health insurance that would make health care unaffordable for the employees and their families
One provision would increase the maximum out-ofpocket health care co-pay “astronomically,” Gascoigne said.
Another proposal would eliminate overtime after workers reach eight hours a day, Williams said.
“These are all concessions they want us to make, but they’re not losing money,” Gascoigne said. “It’s like, why are you doing this?”
The union plans a bus trip this month to the corporate headquarters of Mercy Health in Cincinnati, the SEIU leaders said.
The situation will not affect patient care or the safety of workers or patients, according to a statement from the local Mercy hospital.
“We have been negotiating in good faith with SEIU District 1199 union representatives and are committed to reaching an agreement that is fair and equitable to our employees,” said a hospital statement from Jennifer Cakir, marketing and communications director. “We respect the union’s right to picket and value each Mercy employee’s hard work and commitment to our mission.
“During any picketing we have a plan in place to ensure there is no impact to patient care or to the safety of our employees and patients. We will continue to provide the same high-quality, compassionate care to our community that residents have come to expect from Mercy for more than 120 years.”