During yesterday’s negotiations, Butler put forward our initial economic proposals on wages, benefits and retirement. These proposals acknowledge the hard work and dedication of our team members, providing for a competitive total rewards package that includes wage increases along with competitive health and retirement benefits plans that reward our team members while also remaining sustainable for the hospital in the current unstable political and economic environment.
Our proposals include year one wage increases that average 2.4% – 6.3% per year over the 4-year term of the contract. This represents the highest opening wage increase offer from Butler in over 10 years of negotiations.
Additional details:
- Off-step employees – a large majority of SEIU1199 members – would receive:
- 4% 4 weeks after ratification
- 2% in 2026
- 2% in 2027
- 4% in 2028
- Over the life of the proposed 4-year contract, off-scale employees would receive 12% total increases.
- Employees on step, in addition to step increases – see chart below, receive:
- 2% 4 weeks after ratification
- 1% in 2026
- 1% in 2027
- 2% in 2028
- Over the life of the contract, on-scale employees would receive 11.6% – 28% total increases.
Butler is also proposing to make some changes to healthcare and retirement benefits. Even with the changes proposed, the medical plans and retirement will remain far above what most employers in the market provide. Current employees would maintain and continue their current pension program, while future new hires would be shifted to the Care New England 403(b) retirement plan.
To provide additional details and context, we’ve invited independent consultants to present to delegates on the health and retirement proposals at the April 8th negotiating session. Additional details will be shared after those presentations have taken place.
On-Step Proposed Increases By Contract
