Catholic Healthcare West reaches California labor accord

United Healthcare Workers and Catholic Healthcare West, the parent company of Mercy General Hospital in Sacramento, reached what both sides tout as a historic labor pact that would give 14,000 workers some of the industry's best wages and benefits. The agreement could put pressure on other companies, such as Sutter Health, to negotiate similar contracts. It provides an average wage increase of at least 24% over four years, with some workers getting as much as a 35.4% raise, according to the Service Employees International Union.