FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
November 23, 2024

SAN DIEGO — After a historic unionization campaign and months of negotiations, nearly 5,000 frontline healthcare workers represented by SEIU-United Healthcare Workers West (SEIU-UHW) at Sharp HealthCare have ratified their first union contract. This landmark agreement represents a transformative victory for workers, patients, and the San Diego community.

The new contract, which spans multiple facilities including Sharp Grossmont Hospital, Sharp HospiceCare, Sharp Chula Vista Medical Center and Sharp Metropolitan Medical Campus includes significant increases to wages and benefits, while addressing other worker concerns.

Highlights of the three-year agreement include:

• Pay Increases Up to 35%: Substantial raises to ensure fair compensation and retain skilled healthcare professionals with fair wage scales that ensure equal pay for equal work.
• Family Medical Coverage: A groundbreaking provision that eases financial strain for workers and reduces premiums up to 50% for frontline workers and their families.
• One Union Contract Across Sharp: To ensure one standard for patient care and working conditions, all SEIU-UHW-represented Sharp HealthCare workers are unified under one collective bargaining agreement.

“We are gratified that after 18 months of negotiations, our common interests ultimately took center stage, resulting in a mutually agreeable contract,” said Christopher D. Howard, President and CEO of Sharp HealthCare. “We feel that the teams solidified an agreement that respects, values and rewards our Sharp team members and allows the parties to turn the page and focus on the future of Sharp HealthCare, as well as our commitment to caring for the San Diego community.”

Ratification of the CBA followed the tentative agreement reached between the parties after months of negotiations that received attention from individuals and entities across the country, including acting U.S. Labor Secretary Julie Su.

“Frontline workers at Sharp HealthCare have shown what is possible through unity,” said Dave Regan, President of SEIU-United Healthcare Workers West (SEIU-UHW). “We want to express our profound gratitude to Acting U.S. Labor Secretary Julie Su and the Biden administration for their support of workers’ right to bargain collectively and their efforts to help the parties reach an agreement that addresses the needs of Sharp HealthCare workers and their patients.”

This contract follows an 18-month journey that began with historic union votes across Sharp campuses and marks a turning point in the relationship of the parties.

SEIU-UHW members at Sharp HealthCare include certified nursing assistants, phlebotomists, licensed vocational nurses, respiratory care practitioners, pharmacy technicians, patient transporters, radiologic and surgical technologists, lab technicians, nursing unit clerks, and many other essential frontline healthcare workers.

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SEIU-United Healthcare Workers West (SEIU-UHW) is a healthcare justice union of more than 100,000 healthcare workers, patients, and healthcare activists united to ensure affordable, accessible, high-quality care for all Californians, provided by valued and respected healthcare workers. Learn more at www.seiu-uhw.org.

Sharp HealthCare, San Diego’s most comprehensive health care delivery system, is recognized for clinical excellence in cardiac, cancer, multi-organ transplantation, orthopedics, rehabilitation, behavioral health, women’s health, and hospice services. The Sharp HealthCare system includes four acute-care hospitals, three specialty hospitals, three affiliated medical groups, a health plan and numerous outpatient facilities and programs across the San Diego region. Sharp HealthCare has been widely acclaimed for its commitment to transform the health care experience for patients, physicians and staff through The Sharp Experience.