Today, Aug. 15, Mediator/Arbitrator William Kaplan awarded union members in the Health Care Bargaining Unit an increase in shift and weekend premiums. Health Care Bargaining Unit members were awarded a 50 cent per hour increase to their current hourly premium rate. These premiums are added compensation earned when employees are assigned to work on evenings, overnights or weekends. The increase will be implemented as follows: 15 cents effective date of award (Aug. 15, 2018) 15 cents, Aug. 1, 2019 20 cents, Oct. 31, 2020 As a result of Liberal Bill 148, which legislated a wage pattern on civil servants and health care workers, shift and weekend premiums were one of the few monetary issues that could be negotiated during this round of bargaining. This supplemental award from Mr. Kaplan officially concludes the new collective agreement for the Health Care Bargaining Unit and its six thousand members. The Council of Health … Read more…