AFL Connecticut
NEW LONDON, Conn. Over 900 members of Native 5123, AFT Connecticut are demanding that Yale New Haven Well being directors negotiate in good religion for a brand new contract that would supply dwelling wages and inexpensive well being care insurance coverage. These employees present help companies that guarantee sufferers obtain ample care at Lawrence and Memorial Hospital owned by Yale New Haven Well being, one of many wealthiest and largest well being care programs in Connecticut.
Connie Fields, President of Native 5123 says that union members are struggling to help themselves and their households on the $15.50 per hour wages and poor healthcare insurance coverage offered by Yale New Haven Well being. Many employees are pressured to go on the Connecticut Husky Well being plan to complement the medical health insurance offered on the job.
That is occurring on the identical time that Patrick Inexperienced, President of Lawrence and Memorial Hospital makes over $1.2 million {dollars} per 12 months in wage. Their boss makes over 1,000,000 {dollars} per 12 months whereas employees need to go on the State of Connecticut well being plan! It’s clear that Yale New Haven Well being’s priorities are backwards.
Native 5123’s members have been in contract negotiations since Could 2022 with Yale New Haven Well being’s directors refusing to conform to first rate dwelling wages, cheap well being care and ample staffing ranges.
There are 130 vacant positions presently unfilled leading to employees having issue offering wanted take care of sufferers. The union members are overworked and struggling to supply ample care and companies for sufferers. The Hospital’s poor therapy of employees extends to sufferers and the local people.
These well being care employees are usually not alone of their wrestle for a good contract. This morning native leaders from New London, Groton and surrounding cities confirmed up on the picket line to point out their help for the employee’s want for ample staffing ranges to help sufferers, inexpensive well being care and dwelling wages.
Amongst these becoming a member of the picket line had been Mayor Michael Passero of New London, State Senator Martha Marx, and State Representatives Anthony Nolan, Christine Conley and Aundre Bumgardner. They acknowledged that Native 5123 members are engaged in a wrestle to enhance the lives of their households, sufferers and the broader group.
Indicators carried on the picket strains illustrate these wants: “ L & M Healthcare Staff: We Demand Secure Staffing” “Hero Staff Paid Like Zeros” “L & M Hospital: I AM Value Extra Than $15.50”
Members of Native 5123 AFT Connecticut deserve a good contract!
CONTRIBUTOR
