1199SEIU, the Area Trades Council and Caritas Christi Health Care, the largest community based health system in Massachusetts,yesterday announced a historic and groundbreaking new accord ensuring fair union voting conditions for the system's employees when they are deciding whether to form unions. Read more about the accord in yesterday's Boston Globe.

"We are thrilled that the new leadership of Caritas has affirmed the right of hospital workers to make the decision for ourselves on whether to join together as a union," said St. Elizabeth's Medical Center employee Sonia Marshall, "As Caritas employees, we believe in the mission of our hospitals, and this decision reaffirms that our labor and our voice are valued and respected. In the end, that's what's best for patients, too."

"Today's groundbreaking agreement is good for health care, good for workers and good for hospitals," said Senator Edward M. Kennedy in a statement shared with Caritas workers yesterday. "This partnership establishes a firm foundation for future progress that will benefit both the hardworking people in our health care industry and the people of Massachusetts."

Representing a major breakthrough for labor relations within the state's health industry and across the region, the move by Caritas Christi, 1199SEIU, and the Area Trades Council embodies a new level of prospective cooperation designed to bring about the next generation of value and quality to health care.

"This forward-thinking accord will give workers a free choice about uniting to advocate not just for their patients and themselves, but also for the long-term sustainability of their hospitals and the noble mission of Caritas Christi," said 1199SEIU President George Gresham.

This historic accord of hospital workers also received the support of Senators Edward M. Kennedy and John F. Kerry and Representatives Barney Frank, Jim McGovern, Mike Capuano, Stephen Lynch, and Niki Tsongas of the Massachusetts Congressional Delegation. They issued a statement, saying collectively:

"As elected leaders representing the people of Massachusetts, we express our strong support for the accords reached by Caritas Christi Health Care, the Area Trades Council and Local 1199 of the Service Employees International Union. These accords will help launch a new direction for health care and labor relations in the Commonwealth."

Read the entire statement here.