SEIU Local 205 members at Methodist Medical Center in Oak Ridge demonstrated their solidarity by voting to ratify the extension of their contract. The vote involved approval of the tentative agreement reached with Management on salary and health insurance articles, and left all other discussions off the table.

"This is a win-win for all parties," says Shanella Hawkins, LPN, and first time negotiator. "We protected the health insurance benefits, and won an increase in wages for everyone." The contract is a three-year agreement and bumps all wages an immediate 1.5% of base salary each year, plus a .5% bonus of gross earnings which will be paid around Christmas. "That includes shift diff, weekend diff, and any other taxable income for each employee," adds Candy Cox, RN.

The agreement and wage increase became effective October 10th of this year, and is a three-year contract.