Proper staffing levels and transparency are among many of the critical elements won by 1199SEIU Florida nurses and other healthcare workers in a new contract with 19 HCA hospitals across the state.

Under the new contract, HCA facilities must provide a copy of the staffing matrix when requested and not interfere with posting it on each department bulletin board for all employees to see. And to hold HCA even more accountable to maintain proper staffing levels, the new contract requires the company to compensate workers if they are called off of a shift that is understaffed or results in understaffing.

Earlier this month, 1199SEIU member leaders at HCA hospitals across the state hand-delivered to management a letter formally requesting a copy of the matrix.  As a result, HCA has provided copies of the staffing matrices for all 19 hospitals in Florida.

“This was an important show of strength and unity in our fight to better protect and pay caregivers, and to solve the staffing and retention crisis in Florida hospitals,” said Josephine Odinlo, an RN at HCA Florida Kendall Hospital and member of 1199SEIU.  “The bargaining committee fought over several months of intensive negotiations for all the provisions in the new contract, and we’re going to hold HCA accountable for each and every one of them.”  

Supported by a strategic communications and worker action campaign, the bargaining committee delivered a favorable new contract ratified nearly unanimously by members that also includes numerous increases in pay, protections and benefits, including across the board raises, wage equity/starting rates, differentials and on-call pay, certification pay and more.

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