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Respiratory and physical therapists, medical technicians, engineers, cooks, and other hospital staff represented by the National Union of Healthcare Workers rallied outside Hazel Hawkins Memorial Hospital on Oct. 29, demanding raises and the return of benefits.
Respiratory therapist Valerie Aquinaldo told BenitoLink that workers want their pensions and benefits reinstated, which they say were stripped away when the hospital filed for bankruptcy two years ago.
Although a judge dismissed the hospital’s bankruptcy claim, Aquinaldo said management has yet to restore the lost benefits.
“We’re fighting for a fair contract,” Aquinaldo said. “A lot of people have left the hospital and the wait times are longer, because the money that the workers deserve is not there. So, people are leaving for better places. We want to give the patients what they deserve—what our community deserves.”
Workers also criticized what they described as an unequal pay structure.
“We feel it’s unfair that management gave themselves a 3% raise, but for the worker bees, they only want to give us 2%,” Aquinaldo said.
In a news release, the union said the proposed 2% raise “would widen the gap between Hazel Hawkins and the nearest district hospital, Salinas Valley Health Medical Center.” According to the National Union of Healthcare Workers, employees at Hazel Hawkins already earn an average of 32% less than their counterparts in Salinas.
San Benito Healthcare District spokesperson Marcus Young told BenitoLink that negotiations with NUHW are ongoing. He said the two sides have three more bargaining sessions scheduled in the coming weeks and have reached tentative agreements on several issues.
“We are committed to reaching an agreement with NUHW that reflects our support and respect for the employees at Hazel Hawkins Memorial Hospital while ensuring the long-term sustainability of the high-level care we provide to our community,” Young said.
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