After taking part in a national campaign with partner locals across the country, Florida 1199 members ratified a landmark contract with HCA Healthcare in August, including significant wage increases over the next three years for the lowest earners.

Jennifer Parker, is a Unit Secretary who has works at HCA Florida Osceola Hospital, located in Kissimmee, on the southern outskirts of Orlando for 23 years. An active member of the bargaining committee, she said: “This contract is huge for us. It is the largest percentage raise that I have ever had.”

After months of hard bargaining, HCA was also persuaded to lift the salary caps for the first two years of the contract. This meant that Parker, who has not had a raise in eight years, was able to benefit along with thousands of other long-serving members.

The three-year contract covers about 10,000 nurses, CNAs, technicians, dietary aides and other healthcare workers in 19 Florida HCA hospitals and also includes wage equity for new employees. This means that when a new hire is brought in at a higher rate than current employees with a similar job title and comparable experience, HCA must raise their existing employees to the new, higher rate.

It is not just dramatic wage improvements that members won. There was a significant step forward towards managing the staffing crisis. Contract language was agreed which now requires HCA to compensate workers if they are called off a shift that is understaffed or results in understaffing. Management must provide a copy of the staffing matrix if requested and must allow posting for all employees to see.

Florida members, including Parker, turned out in strength with partner locals at a high-profile action in front of HCA headquarters in Nashville, Tennessee. 1199ers also took part in a national action in Los Angeles and gave interviews with toptier media outlets to help turn the tide in the negotiations.