Building Trades and Supply Chain Workers at UChicago Medicine to Strike for Fair Wages and Benefits
According to a press release from SEIU Local 73, UChicago Medicine workers have voted to go on an Unfair Labor Practice Strike for a fair contract and to protest UCMC labor law violations starting Sunday, July 14, at 9:00 pm.
The union represents 125 building trades and supply chain workers and has been in contract negotiations for more than six months. The press release adds that wages and benefits have not kept up with inflation and the union has filed numerous unfair labor practice charges against UChicago Medicine for surveillance of a union activity, cancelling bargaining in retaliation for concerted activity, and failure to provide information relevant to bargaining.
“These unfair labor practices took place in May and June with the charges being filed the week of June 24,” the press release adds.
“The building trades and supply chain workers at UChicago Medicine are the lifeblood of the medical center. Every day they keep these hospitals functioning and supplied for the patients and this community,” said Jeff Howard, Executive Vice President of SEIU Local 73. “These workers deserve to be treated with dignity and respect. They deserve fair wages and benefits for the work they do. Going on strike is a measure of last resort and it is unfortunate that management has chosen to push these workers into striking for what is right.”
UChicago Medicine workers demands include wage increase that keep pace with inflation, affordable health insurance, and improve benefits.
Janette Wider | Editor-in-Chief
Janette Wider is Editor-in-Chief for Healthcare Purchasing News.