Dr. Hochman joined Swedish management and SEIU yesterday morning at the negotiation table to address the recent announcement that the organization is pursuing a strategic affiliation with Providence Health and Services. After providing an overview of how this affiliation will improve health care quality, access and affordability for the residents of Western Washington, he answered a number of questions from union leadership and members of the bargaining unit.
Dr. Hochman emphasized several areas of the agreement including the fact that Swedish will retain its non-religious roots, that it will retain local control, including its relations with labor, and throughout the process will commit to the highest level of transparency with SEIU.
“We want to create the best healthcare delivery system in Western Washington,” Hochman explained, “and this partnership represents a local solution to a national problem and could become a national model on how to fix healthcare.”
Dr. Hochman noted the benefits of joining forces with Providence because of the shared mission of both organizations who already provide a staggering $205 million per year in uncompensated care and other community-benefit activities for Western Washington.
“Imagine how much more we can do – and how many more lives we can improve – by working together,” Hochman added.
Dr. Hochman underscored the fact that the affiliation is currently in the regulatory review stage and there are still many details to work out, and encouraged the parties to remain focused on reaching an agreement that will ensure the long term sustainability of Swedish since the union and Swedish have a shared and mutual interest in that goal.
More information and updates are available online at www.providenceandswedish.org.
Discussions Continue with Multiple Tentative Agreements Reached
Today SEIU and Swedish Management came to agreement on a number of non-economic areas and continued to discuss several issues including overtime rules, floating practices, dependability policies, a patient lift-team pilot program, committee roles and responsibilities, certifications, sonographer and callbacks. Tentative agreements were reached on discipline and discharge, a number of letters of understandings, oversight committee, call back relief, work on holidays, and Patient Lifting Education and Assistance Team (LEAT) pilot program.
The LEAT Tentative Agreement is an exciting new pilot program that will be mutually beneficial and speaks to the collaborative nature of the progress that has been made between SEIU members and Swedish management.
Upcoming Meetings
Today marks the final scheduled negotiation prior to mediation. Next week SEIU and Swedish Management begin mediation with Larry Fox to further discuss the economic portion of the contract. During mediation there will be no Negotiation News. At the conclusion of mediation, we will send the next edition providing an overview of what was accomplished.
Questions or Comments?
Thank you for the emails and comments we have received. We appreciate hearing from you. Please feel free to submit questions or feedback to corporate.communications@swedish.org or here at www.swedish.org/negotiationnews.
