Workers at Alameda Health System, Alameda county’s public safety-net healthcare system, have won a historic new contract. Highlights include a 20% wage increases over the next four years; institution of a wide-ranging new safety program covering workers and patients alike; and incentivizes for management to staff up throughout the system. SEIU 1021 AHS members voted by over 98% to ratify the new contract.

Nearly 4,000 SEIU 1021 members work across AHS, in roles ranging from environmental health services to registered nurses to eligibility workers, food service, and many other jobs. At the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, they carried out a historic, groundbreaking strike that resulted in the resignation of the CEO at the time and a commitment from the Alameda County Board of Supervisors to take back active oversight over AHS.

This contract campaign, members were determined to improve on the contract they won in 2020. They started early, electing a bargaining team in September, and worked diligently to build unity throughout the membership with the goal of having a contract signed by the date of contract expiration, May 31. The issues that unified workers were safety, an understaffing crisis that fueled the safety issues, and wages falling behind the rising costs of living.

The members pulled off many actions to show their unity, from a Valentine’s Day rally to protest “heartbreaking” conditions, picketing at Fairmont and John George Psychiatric Hospital that earned good coverage on KTVU before and after the event, a massive May Day action across the entire system, and a 99.5% YES vote to authorize a strike.

After months of incredible turnout at actions like these, management had no choice but to take workers seriously and address their concerns.

AHS Chapter President Veronica Palacios said, “After endless hours of bargaining stretching over more than seven months and amazing solidarity shown by our members throughout our contract campaign, I’m proud to announce that our members have voted to accept this historic contract.

“The support they showed the bargaining team and the unified front they showed management made this win possible. By voting 99.5% to authorize a strike, our members made it clear that the 2020 strike was not a one-off, and that we were all prepared to do whatever it takes to make AHS a great place for workers and patients alike.

”This contract has some huge wins in it for our members, but it’s just the first step. We all have to do our part to know our contract and who our shop stewards are, so we can hold management accountable and make sure they honor the promises they have made.”

Highlights of the four-year contract include:

• 20% wage increases over four years
• Major new safety programs
• Incentives to solve the long-standing staffing crisis across the system
• NO takeaways
• And much more, including more than 40 new agreements!

Read more about the agreement here.