Stanford Report, November 9, 2005

Hospitals, union extend deadline

A contract for medical center workers has been extended at least one more week to give hospital and union officials more time to negotiate a new one.

The contract had been scheduled to expire Nov. 4, but negotiators from medical center management and Service Employees International Union Local 715 have agreed to extend it until midnight, Nov. 13, so that negotiations can continue.

There had been seven bargaining sessions as of Nov. 7.

According to management, the SEIU local represents 1,412 of the 8,432 employees who work at the medical center.

Represented positions include hospital support employees, who hold such jobs as technicians, nursing assistants, housekeeping staff and food-service workers.

Among the issues being discussed in the negotiations for the three-year contract are pay, health insurance and retirement benefits. The medical center is comprised of Stanford Hospital & Clinics and Lucile Packard Children's Hospital.