Vermont Business Magazine Members of Community Health Centers (CHC) and Community Health United (CHU), AFT Vermont, have approved a new union contract. This new contract builds on existing contracts with professional staff, and now includes 168 support staff. It will be:
- Increase the minimum start rate to $20/hour in August 2023
- Extend paid time off (including 15 days of paid parental leave)
- Increase employee input to improve orientation, training, health and safety
CHC’s CEO, Jeff McKee, is particularly proud of the collaborative bargaining process, where both parties are “100% committed to committed patients and the organization’s mission, the heart of CHC to provide the best possible service to employees and ensure the long-term viability of our nonprofit organization.”
According to CHU President, Andrea Solomon, a CHC physician assistant, “We provide quality medical, dental, mental health, case management and addiction recovery support to those in need. The wage, paid time off and working conditions improvements we made in this agreement will go a long way toward recruiting and retaining the staff we need to better serve our patients.”
The parties were assisted by mediator, FMCS Commissioner Annie Rutsky. The newly-approved agreement will take effect on February 4, 2023
Since 1971, Community Health Centers have provided quality health care for Vermonters regardless of financial or insurance status. One of 12 federally qualified health centers in the state, CHC has nine locations and is one of the largest not-for-profit family health and dental practices in Chittenden and Grand Isle counties. For more information about their services and programs, visit www.chcb.org.
AFT Vermont is the state’s fastest-growing union and represents more than 6,000 higher education and health care professionals at Community Health Centers, Brattleboro Memorial Hospital, Porter Medical Center, Planned Parenthood of Northern New England, UVM Medical Center, University of Vermont, community colleges. Vermont and Vermont State University. For more information: https://aftvermont.org/
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2.2.2023 Burlington, VT – Community Health Center
