Sharp HealthCare Employees Set for Vote After Tentatively Agreeing to New Contract

Sharp HealthCare and the union representing thousands of its health care employees have reached tentative agreement on a three-year contract.

Tuesday’s announcement comes a week after 92% of SEIU-United Healthcare Workers West members voted to authorize a five-day strike.

The union, which includes around 5,000 workers at Sharp Grossmont Hospital, Sharp HospiceCare, Sharp Chula Vista Medical Center and Sharp Metropolitan Medical Campus, will hold a ratification vote on the new collective bargaining agreement beginning Monday.

“Our joint SEIU-UHW Sharp Bargaining team recommends a yes vote to lock in the gains in our tentative agreement,” union officials said in a statement.

Among the terms of the agreement workers will receive new wage scales based on overall job class experience and reduced premiums for those needing family medical coverage. Some according to SEIU-UHW, will see up to 15% wage increases in each of the first two years of the deal; the average increase is 23%.

Others will receive bonuses based on missing the last round of Sharp-wide raises or other factors.

In addition, a labor and management retirement committee will will meet quarterly “to address the need for significantly improved retirement benefits for all Sharp employees,” according to union officials said.

Negotiations took approximately 18 months.

In a statement, the company said that the pact “respects, values and rewards our Sharp team members and allows the parties to turn the page and focus on the future with a renewed commitment to ensuring high-quality care continues at Sharp HealthCare.”