So far, so good

Enloe Medical Center and the Service Employees International Union–United Healthcare West completed their first round of bargaining last week, and the news is so far, so good. According to a hospital press release, the union presented a “comprehensive proposal covering many topics with the exception of wage proposals,” explaining them and answering questions from the Enloe bargaining team.

The two sides also agreed on ground rules for the negotiating process.

It took more than three years for SEIU to become recognized as the representative of service workers at the hospital. Enloe appealed the union’s narrow 2004 victory all the way to the 3rd District Appeals Court in Washington, D.C., before finally giving up the effort.

The bargaining teams agreed to meet again on June 5, 18 and 29.