Becky Williams, president of SEIU District 1199, and Paul Hiltz, president and CEO of Community Mercy Health Partners, announced a tentative agreement on a five-year contract for more than 500 full-time and part-time service employees at Springfield Regional Medical Center and Mercy McAuley Center.

“Through our shared values and commitment to quality care for the community, we reached an agreement on a new five-year contract that values our members and the work that they do,” said Williams. “Our communities benefit the most when labor and management can work together to protect good-paying jobs and quality patient care.”

“I am proud to announce that we have reached an agreement with our service employees,” said Hiltz. “Together, we have achieved a fair contract that balances the needs of our staff while ensuring we can continue delivering on our mission of serving the healthcare needs of the community.”

The contract is retroactively effective Feb. 2, 2015, and will expire Feb. 1, 2020.