SEIU Local 105 Mental Health Center of Denver

Sandy Schoneman, residential counselor at New Visions, casts her ballot.

December 2007: MHCD Employees win pay increases!
 Membership ratifies Wage Re-opener Agreement with Management, New Raises Go Into Effect January 1

1) Across the Board (ATB) Increases: All MHCD employees employed as of December 31, 2007 will receive a 3% increase to your base wage (excludes CAC and language premiums). 

2) Longevity Increase: All MHCD employees hired prior to to Jan 1, 2006 shall receive an additional 2% increase, making for a 5% total increase.  This increase is to partially correct a 4% salary gap between employees hired prior to 2006 and those hired in 2006 and 2007. Two years ago, MHCD and the Union agreed to stop seniority increases for employees and give salary increases in the form of Across the Board adjustments. The problem with this was that as new employees were being hired on, they were getting the ATB increases as the hire-in scale itself was increased and, in addition, an  extra 2% for each year of experience they had working for other organizations. If two employees have 5 years of relevant experience, the one hired in 2007 is currently making 4% more than the one hired in 2005. The MHCD Management Bargaining Team and the Union Bargaining Team agreed this issue needs to be addressed. Full correction was not possible this year due to budgetary constraints, but we're back to being headed in the right direction toward more equitable pay.  In addition, in 2008, the salary scale will only increase by 2.25% so that new hires next year will only receive 2.25% more than 2007 new hires so that this gap does not continue to grow at the same rate. 

3) Market Adjustment: Taking into consideration MHCD's need to remain competitive with other employers and reduce turnover, we agreed to target the following job categories with hourly wage increases.

LPN: $2 additional per hour

Housing Specialist: $1 additional per hour

Client Trust Fund Advisor: $.55 additional per hour

BSN: $.45 additional per hour 

Finally, it is worth noting that the health care cost-sharing provision of the union contract is paying off for everyone.  Your health care premiums will decrease effective January 1, 2008, resulting in more money in your pocket.