Settlement Reached Between Motion Picture & Television Fund and SEIU UHW

LOS ANGELES, April 24 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- SEIU United Healthcare
Workers - West and Motion Picture & Television Fund announced today that they
have reached a tentative agreement on a new five-year contract, which provides
stable and predictable wages and benefits for more than 570 healthcare workers
at MPTF Hospital and Health Centers through October 2012. The agreement has
been unanimously recommended by the SEIU UHW bargaining committee to its
membership, and ratification is expected by the end of the week.
"I am very pleased with this agreement," said David Tillman, M.D., MPTF
President & CEO. "I feel we have achieved a deal that addresses many of MPTF's
operating pressures and meets our organizational goals, and at the same time
is fair to our employees and reflects the fact that MPTF is a great place to
work.
"We are thrilled to have made such great progress through this agreement
by remaining united," said Myra Torres, a Health Promotions Representative at
the hospital for 12 years. "What we achieved, will improve the lives of
patients by helping to attract and retain the most qualified caregivers in the
area."
The settlement was reached after a day-long meeting between the
organizations' bargaining committees Tuesday, which was facilitated by
I.A.T.S.E. International President Thomas C. Short.
"We are grateful for President Short's assistance in our reaching a
successful conclusion to these negotiations," commented Dr. Tillman. "As a
relief organization that is still providing financial assistance to
entertainment industry members who lost wages in the recent work stoppage, we
know first hand how valuable it is to come to a harmonious resolution and
avoid a strike situation."
"We are happy to have found common ground and reach a settlement that
protects both patients and caregivers," said Barbara Lewis, SEIU UHW
Administrative Vice-President. "We thank IATSE and President Short for helping
us work constructively around our shared goal of ensuring quality patient
care."
The non-profit Motion Picture & Television Fund was founded in 1921 to
provide "relief" for those in the film industry who had fallen on hard times.
Today, MPTF is a major service provider supporting the health and well being
of the entertainment industry community. Care is offered with compassion and
respect for the dignity of the whole person, and provided through six
outpatient health centers, charitable financial assistance and community
outreach programs, a renowned retirement community, and much more. Visit us at
www.mptvfund.org.
The 150,000-member SEIU United Healthcare Workers-West is the largest,
fastest-growing hospital and healthcare union in the western United States and
represents every type of healthcare worker, including nurses, professional,
technical and service classifications. Our mission is to achieve high-quality
healthcare for all.
CONTACT:
Jennifer Fagen, MPTF
(818) 876-1544
Blinker Wood, SEIU UHW
(323) 434-5733

SOURCE SEIU United Healthcare Workers - West

Blinker Wood, of SEIU UHW, +1-323-434-5733; or Jennifer Fagen, of MPTF,
+1-818-876-1544