11 July 2014

An Open Letter to the Leadership of 1199 SEIU and Johns Hopkins Hospital

I was pleased to learn of the negotiated tentative agreement between 1199 Service Employees International Union (SEIU)

Maryland and The Johns Hopkins University. The agreement shows that by working together, caregivers and hospitals

can provide excellent health care to our communities while meeting the needs of their employees.

The 1199 SEIU Maryland represents 9,000 service workers in the academic medical sector in the Baltimore-Washington

region, including 2,000 employees at Johns Hopkins Hospital alone. Their perseverance and success at the negotiating

table demonstrates the intrinsic value of unions-- workers banding together to advocate collectively for their livelihood.

SEIU’s education and direct action organizing efforts are to be commended; posting videos of workers’ stories, using

billboards and rallies and knocking on neighbors’ doors both educated our communities about the working conditions of

Hopkins employees and created allies to stand with the workers. Marylanders were able to physically and virtually stand

with SEIU, which shows the power of traditional picketing combined with social media. SEIU’s success in bringing

workers and Marylanders together prompted Governor O’Malley to intervene.

Included in the agreement are the following provisions:

Raises as high as 38% for long-time workers, an increase of as much as $4.30/hour over the life of the contract.

A $14.50 hourly wage by 2015 and over $15 hourly wage by 2017 for workers with 15 years’ experience.

A standard wage of at least $13/hour by 2018 for current workers.

Annual raises of at least 2% across the board, with a 2% raise and a 0.5% bonus in the first year of the contract,

and a 2.75% raise in 2017.

Establishment of a committee to review market rates for surgical technicians, pharmacy technicians, and other

workers whose pay is below market.

As the nation’s #1 health care provider, Johns Hopkins Hospital is positioned to be a leader in its employment policies.

With this new agreement, Johns Hopkins Hospital will serve as a model to health care systems regionally and nationally

for working with collective bargaining units to provide higher, fairer wages to employees at all levels of the hospital

organization. This is a great start!

Higher wages benefit our overall economy, increasing the spending power and quality of life for wage earners.

Marylanders are fortunate to have a strong advocate for workers like 1199 SEIU Maryland and an institution like Johns

Hopkins Hospital. With this agreement, all of us emerge as winners. Great work, 1199 SEIU Maryland and Johns Hopkins

Hospital! I look forward to the ratification of the agreement. Congratulations to you both.

Sincerely,

Delegate Mary L. Washington

Maryland General Assembly, 43rd

District