This afternoon, Butler Hospital put forward its most lucrative proposal to date, which addresses the key issues that delegates and employees have indicated are their top priorities: increasing wages for those who need it most, working collaboratively on workplace safety, opportunities for education and training that lead to career advancement, and access to affordable health insurance options.
This is Butler’s Last, Best, and Final proposal. It is a comprehensive offer. If the proposal is not accepted by 10:00 am ET on Thursday, May 8th, it will be modified because of the costs associated with securing replacement workers.
Included here are the highlights of the changes today to yesterday’s proposal. Additional details on the complete proposals can be found here:
Wages:
- Off-scale employees: Our new proposal increases our wage increase offer 6% four weeks after ratification, 4% in 2026, 3% in 2027, and 5% in 2028. (18% over the course of the contract)
- Increased Minimum: Our new proposal further enhances the starting wage for all employees up from $17 to at least $18.03 per hour and bumps up all steps and off-scale wages in those positions proportionately.
- Preceptor Differential: Differential payment for preceptors will be increased from $2 per hour to $3 per hour.
- Market adjustments for Several Positions: See the attached document for a list of positions that will see a sizable market increase four weeks after ratification with this proposal.
Health and Dental Plans:
- BlueSolutions HSA Medical Plan – Previously, the hospital had proposed discontinuing HSA contributions toward the plan deductible. Our new proposal continues hospital contributions to the HSA at 50% of the deductible for the life of the contract.
Education and Training:
- Butler would agree to contribute to the SEIU 1199 NE training fund to support the career development and advancement of employees.
Retirement:
- Butler will continue to provide the Tax-Sheltered Annuity (TSA) benefit. Previous proposals had discontinued this benefit.
These changes are in addition to key items put forward in previous proposals, which include:
- A four-year contract that provides the security of predictable wage growth and benefit costs in uncertain economic and political times.
- Formation of a Workplace Violence task force that would report to the Health & Safety Committee and work to identify systemic and department-level opportunities for safety improvements. This task force would supplement the work of the current Health & Safety Committee.
- Lower paycheck deductions for the Network Blue New England medical plan – over 70% less for full-time employees and over 50% less for part-time employees. This plan has a very low deductible and will greatly reduce out-of-pocket costs.
This proposal is one of the most extensive Butler has ever offered, but it must be accepted no later than 10:00 am tomorrow. In order to assure a safe transition of care if union employees walk off the job on May 15th, we must pay a staffing firm a sizable fee in advance to ensure replacement workers are on-site and ready to work. The first payment is due tomorrow. Once that payment is made, this proposal will be modified, and the cost of that payment will be reflected in any future proposals.
We encourage you to reach out to your delegates and tell them that the time is now to do what is best for Butler employees and Butler patients and put this extremely lucrative offer to a vote.
