Marin General workers win big raises
In a victory for workers and patients at Marin General Hospital, more than 60 imaging technologists, who staged a one-day strike last month, unanimously ratified a five-year contract Thursday that will raise average wages by more than 30 percent over the length of the contract.
One day after the ratification vote, we won an election to represent 28 pharmacy and medical technicians.
“We are proud to be joining a union whose members stood together and went on strike to win a contract that will help Marin General continue to attract top quality caregivers,” said Liezel Lago, a clinical systems pharmacy technician. “By joining with NUHW, we will have the power to defend ourselves and provide the best possible care to our community.”
The average worker will get raises of 16.5 percent over the five-year contract, which expires in 2023. The agreement also includes higher wage scales, so workers will get additional raises both initially and as they gain seniority over the course of the contract. Most workers will see their salaries increase about 7 percent immediately. The employer will provide an HMO health plan with 100% employer-paid premium contribution and a PPO plan that will now include some shared costs.
“The raises we negotiated will more than pay for the increased cost of our health insurance,” said Shannon Wolfe, a lead cardiac sonographer. “What the hospital had originally proposed was an unfair takeaway that would have forced many of us to seriously consider leaving for better paying hospitals. This contract will keep top notch caregivers here in Marin, and help us attract even more.”