What’s In It for Us?

SHARE is a community of hospital workers who take care of each other. Everything SHARE members have — from wages to retirement to a real say in how work gets done — exists because we negotiate for it, together. Here's what SHARE membership delivers:

Predictable Raises

SHARE members have received solid raises every year since 1997 when our union began. Under our most recent contract, SHARE members get a guaranteed raise each year of the agreement, each one set as a percentage or a flat dollar amount, whichever is greater.

  • Year 1 delivered 6%, or $1.25 an hour, whichever was more.

  • Year 2 brought a 5% raise, or $1.25 an hour.

  • Year 3 added 4.5%, or $1.00 an hour.

  • Year 4 delivered 4%, or $1.00 an hour.

That flat-dollar floor matters: it means the raise for lower-paid jobs works out to an even higher percentage than the headline number suggests.

85% of our health insurance premium, covered

UMass Memorial pays 85% of the cost of our health insurance premium — locked into our contract — for a Blue Cross Blue Shield HMO plan, or an equivalent amount for the PPO.

Our voice, built into the job: Unit Based Teams

Unit Based Teams put SHARE members in the lead, redesigning how work actually happens in our own departments. We identify problems, test fixes, and see results: better patient care, shorter wait times, and a better day at work.

Our union helps us grow in our careers

Healthcare is constantly changing, and so do our needs. We’re designing our union for lifelong learning. SHARE members have access to free career development and earn-and-learn apprenticeship programs, as well as low-cost online degree programs through Union Plus. Experienced SHARE leaders help members solve problems, whether through formal meetings or behind-the-scenes. We anticipate and prepare for workforce changes; when other solutions can’t be reached, in the event of a layoff, SHARE members have work- and income-security for up to three months, plus individualized support to find another job. Members looking to make a change can save the job of another through voluntary layoff, or job-swap.

Security after retirement

. . . with two retirement plans, not one: an employer-funded pension pays us guaranteed monthly income for life — automatic, no market risk, no action needed. On top of that, a 401(k) through Fidelity matches $0.50 for every dollar you contribute, on your first 4% of pay.

Being in SHARE makes our future more predictable. Our current agreement is coming to a close, but we’re negotiating the next evolution of that contract. We know that we can continually improve how it feels to come to work and the care that we give to our patients.