SEIU rallies for healthcare

In their campaign for wage increases and improved health care benefits, Pitt service workers… In their campaign for wage increases and improved health care benefits, Pitt service workers and supporters rallied on Bigelow Boulevard, outside the Faculty Senate meeting, Wednesday afternoon.

The service employees are members of the Service Employee’s International Union Division 29, the union for the 400 groundskeepers, house cleaners and other workers at Pitt. The workers’ contract, which expired Dec. 31, 2002, is on extension and the union is engaged in contract negotiations with the University.

Tom Hoffman, communications director for the Central States Building Service Council and Trustee of Local 585, said Pitt proposed a 1.25 percent wage increase for the workers during the next three years. He explained that percentage would amount to 14 extra cents an hour and that the workers feel the proposed level of increase is unacceptable.

The service workers are also pressing for better and more affordable health care benefits from the University. Hoffman said the University said there would be hefty increases in the employees’ health care costs, though he added that he did not have any information on the exact level of those cost increases.

The health care issue has particular salience for many of Pitt’s service workers.

Bill Beu, a grounds crew worker and a single father at the rally, said he relies heavily on quality and affordable health benefits because of his son, who suffers from several neurological disorders as a result of untreated sinusitis.

“When my son was 11 he fell ill and even though I had insurance he was denied treatment,” Beu said. “Because of that, he will be disabled for the rest of his life. I cannot afford to lose my health benefits now.”

Resheeda Johnson, a housing services employee and mother of three, explained that health care benefits were particularly important to support her 15-year-old daughter, a rising track star.

“She’s very talented and I want to see her taken care of,” she said.

Vice Chancellor for Public Affairs Robert Hill said the contract negotiations are still going on and the two sides will continue to work for a solution.

“We value its members and respect them,” Hill said, regarding the union’s rally. He added that through negotiations the University is looking for an agreement that will both please the employees and be beneficial to Pitt and is confident the two groups can reach such a compromise.