Guest View

HHH caregivers consider patients in push for new contract
The opinion of Mary Agredano Garcia, HHH activities assistant
and union steward; and Ismael Nava, HHH nursing assistant
When 160 union members at Hazel Hawkins hospital voted last
month to keep our union, it was more than just a victory for
workers.
HHH caregivers consider patients in push for new contract

The opion of Mary Agrdano Garcia, HHH activities assistant and union steward; and Ismael Nava, HHH nursing assistant

When 160 union members at Hazel Hawkins hospital voted last month to keep our union, it was more than just a victory for workers.

It was a promising step forward for our patients in the Hollister area, who count on the high quality of care that we provide, benefiting from a stable unionized workforce.

It was also a signal to management at the hospital that they should respect our union and bargain seriously with us for a new contract.

Caregivers at Hazel Hawkins voted June 25 to stay united in SEIU UHW, the United Healthcare Workers (UHW) local union that is part of the 2 million-member Service Employees International Union (SEIU).

SEIU UHW has taken the lead in negotiating contracts at California hospitals that strengthen workers while protecting patients through staffing ratios to ensure a high quality of care.

Staffing provisions offer peace of mind to local residents concerned about the level of attention their loved ones receive.

Just because San Benito County is a rural place without big-city skylines doesn’t mean residents should miss out on the protections for high-quality care that SEIU UHW caregivers have won at facilities across California. But in order for caregivers at Hazel Hawkins Memorial Hospital to win a strong new contract, management needs to negotiate with us in earnest. 

We have been bargaining for a new contract for several weeks. Hospital management should respect our vote to stick with our union and redouble its efforts to negotiate with us to settle our new contract.

When management talks about the importance of recruiting and retaining talented caregivers like us, we want to believe them. Securing a strong new contract for caregivers is the best way to ensure that Hollister-area residents enjoy the highest-quality care from an effective team of healthcare professionals.