UVMMC Support Staff United photo
Vermont Business Magazine Monday night the Burlington City Council unanimously passed a resolution calling on the UVMMC Administration to reach agreement with the support staff union “that is in the best interest of the community and respects the worth and dignity of UVMMC’s support staff and leads to greater pay equity, increased salaries and a livable wages with a healthy work life balance, protecting and improving worker safety and patient care, which will help with attracting and retaining quality staff.”
During the public comment period numerous Support Staff members spoke about conditions they are working to improve through negotiations. Staffing office specialist Jacob Berkowitz said, “UVMMC’s continued refusal to pay support staff a living wage has created a neverending sieve, and they continue to reject common sense proposals that would plug that sieve, retain experienced staff and, God Forbid, attract new workers instead of hiring often inexperienced and less-qualified travelers for several times the cost to take care of our patients and this community.”
Leah Briggs, Phlebotomy Operations Coordinator, said, “More than 80% of diagnosis and treatment of patients are based on laboratory results…this is why it breaks my heart that UVMMC phlebotomists are only paid $16.63 per hour. This is how UVMMC values your healthcare.”
UVMMC Support Staff United and new Techs joining VFNHP is a group of nearly 2400 Service, Maintenance, Clinical and Technical staff at the University of Vermont Medical Center
AFT Vermont represents 6000 healthcare and higher education professionals at the UVM Medical Center, University of Vermont, the Vermont State Colleges, Porter Medical Center, Community Health Centers of Burlington, Planned Parenthood of NNE and Brattleboro Medical Center. Vt.aft.org.
Source: 8.15.2023. AFT Vermont. Burlington
