The opening bargaining session for the 2017-2020 contract took place on Monday, June 26, from 9 pm to 5 pm at DTC 259. “We’re taking a new approach this year,” said SEIU 1991 President Martha Baker, RN. “We want to make the process as productive as possible for our members so we can continue to deliver high quality care for our patients.”
With a focus on collaboration, and no attorneys present for the initial session, the negotiations created an environment where members could freely talk about their concerns. One of our joint initiatives, which 90% of survey participants expressed interest in, was a wellness program that we will work collaboratively to create.
Management did a presentation on the wellness program as part of our initial discussions. Topics also included improvements in insurance options, instituting a “Just Culture,” pay scale adjustments for many job classes, and increased per diem rates. Representatives from AFSCME and CIR joined us for the session.
Guiding the discussions were the results of the Bargaining Survey. All members are encouraged to complete their surveys as soon as possible, and to tell fellow members to do the same. The survey takes less than 10 minutes and will let us know your priorities, including raises, staffing levels, job classifications, and much more.
The next bargaining session is on Thursday, June 29, from 9 am to 5 pm at SEIU Local 1991 (1601 NW 8th Ave., Miami, FL 33136). Everyone is welcome to attend!