‘Way to Go!’ Northeast Valley Workers Ratify Contract

After five months of bargaining, 94% of workers at Northeast Valley Health Corp. (NEVHC) voted to ratify a new contract on Aug. 19.
Among the important gains included in the new contract are:

• 
  Across-the-board wage increases totaling 7.5% over the life of the three-year contract
  , with increases retroactive to May 15, 2010.
• 
  Improvements to longevity
  , effective May 15, 2011.
• 
  Maintains 100% coverage of health premiums for employees and increased employer contribution from 33-1/3% to 40% for dependents.
• 
  Improvements on working out of classification
  .
• 
  Contract language gains in more than 10 other articles.

Representatives of NEVHC employees from 13 worksites had been meeting with management since March to negotiate the new agreement.

“The most exciting part of bargaining in 2010 was that all members were able to get involved in one way or another,” says Marie L. Michaelsen, a nutritionist who served on the Northeast Valley bargaining team.
“They spoke out, voted, and participated in order to move the table and the contract reflects all of our hard work. Way to go, Northeast Valley!”