Cape Cod Healthcare, Union Agree To Wage Increases

HYANNIS, MA — Union leadership at 1199SEIU reached a tentative agreement with Cape Cod Healthcare on four new contracts for frontline workers at Cape Cod Hospital, Falmouth Hospital, Cape Cod Healthcare Lab Services and Cape Cod Human Services, union officials said Monday.

If union members ratify the four-year contracts, around 2,000 workers will see increases to their wages and benefits. Specifically, union members would see a 10 percent growth in their wages over the life of the contract, union officials said.

Union Vice President said the contracts are "an enormous victory" for the health care workers who made sacrifices amid the coronavirus pandemic.

"Our members drove home the message that Cape Cod Healthcare workers have worked tirelessly during the last two years, and they deserve to be paid fairly, and treated with respect," union Vice Foley said in a statement.

Under each of the agreements, the workers with the lowest wages will experience greater wage growth in percentage terms due to annual step movement and other adjustments, union officials said.

Union officials said the contracts are being distributed to members, and they anticipate them being ratified in the next several weeks.

"The last two years have shown people on Cape Cod — and across the country — how important these frontline jobs are," said Anderson Ricardo, an ICU nursing assistant at Cape Cod Hospital. "Every healthcare worker deserves fair pay, good benefits, and respect. I was happy to be a part of these negotiations."