About 200 Loretto Hospital workers will return to work after their union reached a tentative contract agreement with hospital leadership Thursday, following an 11-day strike.
The union SEIU Healthcare Illinois and Loretto announced Thursday evening that they reached the tentative agreement, which provides wage increases and a Juneteenth paid holiday.
“We know we could make more at another hospital, but we stay here because we care about our patients and community,” said Carla Haskins, a Loretto patient care tech and bargaining committee member. “This contract isn’t just a win for us — this is a win for all of Austin. This fight has always been about securing quality healthcare for Loretto patients and Austin community members — a community we workers belong to ourselves. This contract is a major first step that will help Loretto retain and hire more workers to address the staffing crisis.”
Loretto Hospital leadership said in a statement that it is critical that the hospital “remains open and accessible to the Austin community. We will continue to partner with SEIU, clergy, corporate and community stakeholders to secure the funding and resources needed for the hospital’s long-term growth.”
The workers went on strike July 31, saying that low pay at Loretto has led to short staffing and compromised care for patients. The workers include patient transporters; patient care technicians; emergency room technicians; mental health and behavioral health workers; respiratory and radiology technicians; and those who work in housekeeping, among others.
The hospital previously said in statements to the media that the union’s pay demands were not “sustainable,” given that Loretto is a safety net hospital.
Loretto serves the predominantly Black community of Austin. Many of its patients are on Medicaid, a state and federally funded health insurance program for people with low incomes and/or disabilities.
