SEIU 1021 members at Planned Parenthood Northern California (PPNorCal) have made history! After eight months at the bargaining table, more than 350 dedicated frontline healthcare professionals voted overwhelmingly to ratify their very first union contract on Friday, June 27.

This powerful first agreement covers workers across 11 counties and delivers long-overdue wins in wages, job security, and workplace safety. These improvements will not only improve conditions for staff but also enhance care for the thousands of patients who rely on Planned Parenthood services across the region.

Highlights from the new contract include:

• A minimum wage increase from $21 to $25 per hour
• A first-ever wage scale with guaranteed annual raises and step increases based on experience
• Pay differentials for evenings, weekends, bilingual skills, training, and after-hours care
• A nearly 19% wage increase over three years
• New safety protections, including:
  • The right to refuse unsafe assignments
  • Mandatory annual de-escalation training
  • Air quality monitoring at all sites

These gains come at a crucial time for reproductive healthcare workers, who are facing heightened threats and pressure. The new agreement supports recruitment and retention, ensuring safer and more stable work environments.

“The ratification of this contract marks a pivotal moment for our workforce, as well as the patients and communities that we serve daily. Exemplary sexual and reproductive health care begins with having a voice, safe working conditions, livable wages, and the strength of collective action,” said Sachi Richardson, a clinician at PPNorCal. “Now, more than ever, we must stand in solidarity and reclaim the power that we have as workers. We’ve shown that standing up for justice strengthens our care—and this is just the beginning.”

“Ratifying our first union contract is more than a win for us—it’s a promise to our patients that their care is built on dignity and stability. Working with my coworkers to unionize has been an empowering way to live out the values that Planned Parenthood stands for,” said Billie Long, a training mentor/medical assistant in Eureka. “In rural Northern California, we’re often the only source of care—mental health, reproductive health, even support with basic needs. When we uplift workers, we show our patients that everyone matters in our healthcare system. This contract is a powerful step forward, not just for us, but for Planned Parenthood workers everywhere. We’ve proven that compassion and justice go hand in hand, and we’re just getting started.”

Congratulations to PPNorCal Workers United members! Your solidarity, strength, and courage have set a powerful example for healthcare workers nationwide.