Leaders Bless Healthy Model for Labor-Management Relations

Greenfield, WI– Interfaith Worker Justice (IWJ) will celebrate the announcement of a new contract for workers at Mount Carmel Health and Rehabilitation Center, Monday, March 29. The agreement reached between members of Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 150 and Benedictine Health Dimensions (BHD), manager of the facility, signals a solid future for the troubled institution and a national model for healthy labor-management relations in the health care industry. Both parties commit to continue their joint efforts toward providing state-of-the-art care for residents and the highest level of workplace justice for employees.

Mount Carmel was in danger of closing due to major uncorrected care violations under the previous management. BHD, a member organization and the long-term care/post acute care division of the Benedictine Health System, Duluth, MN signed an interim management agreement in December and a 3-year management agreement on January 29, 1999.

The IWJ met in December with leadership of both BHD and SEIU Local 150, which represents Mt. Carmel workers, to aid with the establishment of a collaborative working relationship in order to save the institution. "By all accounts, the work that was done together to turn around this facility in such a short time-frame is truly amazing," said Sister Barbara Pfarr, SSND, Coordinator of the Religious Employers Project of IWJ. "The historic agreement shows what can be accomplished when labor and management work together on their common values of quality care for residents and a quality environment for the care givers. The fact that the contract was negotiated so quickly indicates the good will of both parties and provides a model for labor-management relationships in religiously sponsored health care institutions throughout the country."

IWJ, located in Chicago, educates, organizes and mobilizes the religious community on issues and campaigns that improve wages, benefits and working conditions for workers in the U.S. The Religious Employers Project facilitates direct and respectful dialogue between religious sponsors and union leadership in order to promote understanding, avoid polarization, and assure balance between the rights and responsibilities of workers and managers in religiously sponsored healthcare institutions.