UChicago Medicine artisans and supply chain workers threaten strike on July 14 – Chicago Maroon

Jeff Howard of SEIU Local 73 speaks at the press conference.

UChicago Medicine (UCM) tradesmen and suppliers announced their intention to strike beginning July 14 at a press conference Wednesday outside Mitchell Hospital. After more than six months of negotiations, including a meeting with a federal mediator on Tuesday, Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 73 – which represents 125 UChicago Medicine (UCM) workers – has decided to walk out of work unless an agreement is reached with UCM.

At the press conference, Jeff Howard, vice chairman of SEIU Local 73, called the strike a “last resort.”

“We keep the boilers running, we keep the doors swinging, we keep the walls painted, we keep the supplies moving, we keep this hospital running. And if you don’t come in with the real contract on July 14, we’re going to show you how much this place doesn’t run without us,” Howard said.

Union members are demanding wage increases that match inflation, cheaper health insurance and improved benefits. The union has filed several unfair labor practice complaints with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), including monitoring union activities, canceling collective bargaining in retaliation for concerted activity and refusing to provide information relevant to negotiations.

“Over the years, I’ve seen wages decline. We’re making less than we did before the pandemic. I was hoping to retire in a few years, but I don’t know if I can,” said Charles Matthews, operations engineer at UCM.

Another major sticking point for the union is the health insurance plan that UCM offers to SEIU employees, which workers say is unaffordable.

“UCM has not even offered us enough pay to cover today’s insurance costs. We are proposing changes to our health insurance offering that would cost UCM very little but would make a huge difference in our lives,” said Justin Babitsch, a painter who works at UCM.

He said the cost of family insurance has increased in recent years, from $568 in 2021 to $849 today.

“What will happen in the next four years? Things will continue to improve,” said Babitsch.

Leah Fried, campaign director for SEIU Local 73 and lead negotiator in the dispute, stressed that workers do not want to strike but are prepared to do so if UCM does not meet their demands.

“Our goal is to provide the services that are so important to this hospital, but that depends on UCMC. If they are willing to meet and have a serious conversation about the expensive insurance premiums and the low wages and making sure they can attract and retain staff to provide those services, then we are willing to meet,” Fried said.

While UCM hopes to avoid a strike through additional negotiations, it is taking precautions to continue normal operations. In a statement to the Chestnut brownThe University of Chicago Medical Center (UCMC) wrote: “As with any threatened work stoppage, UCMC has contracted with a company to provide experienced workers to replace SEIU-represented employees in the event of a strike. These replacements will ensure that all support functions continue seamlessly so that our Medical Center can fulfill its commitment and mission to provide safe, high-quality care to patients.”

The statement concluded, “UCMC remains committed to negotiating in good faith and working toward a new contract. But any new collective bargaining agreement must balance the needs of our employees and continue to enable the Medical Center to meet the healthcare needs of our patients and all the communities we serve.”