The Motion Picture & Television Fund, which operates a large retirement community in Woodland Hills and health clinics throughout Los Angeles, said Thursday that it has reached a tentative agreement with the SEIU United Healthcare Workers covering 570 employees.

The five-year pact covers workers at a hospital in the retirement village and at the satellite health centers. The MPTF has been in talks with the SEIU for several months.

"I feel we have achieved a deal that addresses many of MPTF's operating pressures and meets our organizational goals and at the same time is fair to our employees and reflects the fact that MPTF is a great place to work," MPTF CEO David Tillman said.

"We are thrilled to have made such great progress through this agreement by remaining united," said Myra Torres, a union rep at the MPTF hospital. "What we achieved will improve the lives of patients by helping to attract and retain the most qualified caregivers."

News of the settlement followed a Tuesday meeting between bargaining committees for both groups facilitated by IATSE international president Tom Short.

"We are grateful for president Short's assistance in our reaching a successful conclusion to these negotiations," Tillman said. "As a relief organization that is still providing financial assistance to entertainment industry members who lost wages in the recent work stoppage, we know firsthand how valuable it is to come to a harmonious resolution and avoid a strike situation."

MPTF in health care pact

Reaches five-year agreement covering 570 employees

By Carl DiOrio

April 24, 2008, 07:47 PM