SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 27 /PRNewswire/ -- Hundreds of caregivers on strike at California Pacific Medical Center will be joined by community members and clergy during a candlelight vigil for victims of Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita. Many family members of Sutter/CPMC strikers were displaced by the hurricanes in Louisiana, Texas and Mississippi at the same time that caregivers began their strike for better patient care.
"My family is from New Orleans and are completely traumatized by the hurricane," said Phyllis Tonson, a Dietary Aide at California Pacific Medical Center. "But they told me to stay on the picket line because it is the right thing to do. I pray for their struggle in Louisiana, and they are praying for a quick resolution to my fight for patients here in California."
Last week, caregivers were shocked by Sutter CPMC's exploitative use of hurricane survivors as underpaid replacement workers during the strike. The hurricane evacuees were hired without full disclosure that they would be crossing a picket line and paid five to six dollars an hour less than those on strike -- and without benefits or any guarantee of continued employment.
"CPMC caregivers have felt the impact of Hurricane devastation both personally and professionally. They have remained committed to fighting for better patient care while family members struggled in storm-ravaged states. They also witnessed Sutter CMPC's unethical use of hurricane victims as temporary workers earning less then a living wage to do the same work as the caregivers on strike," stated Sal Rosselli, President of SEIU United Healthcare Workers - West. "This vigil is in solidarity with all hurricane victims, both the many relatives of the strikers and those taken advantage of by Sutter CPMC."
Around 800 caregivers are in their fifteenth day of strike that began on September 13 after a Federal Mediator offered a compromise settlement proposal that CPMC accepted, then rejected. The caregivers struck when CPMC reneged on its offer to accept the settlement.
What: CPMC strikers will hold a candlelight vigil for victims of Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita Where: California Pacific Medical Center Davies Campus (corner of Duboce St. and Castro St.) When: Tuesday, September 27, 7 p.m. Thea Lavin c. 510-520-7732 Kay Carney c. 510-587-4540
SEIU United Healthcare Workers-WestCONTACT: Thea Lavin, +1-510-520-7732, or Kay Carney, +1-510-587-4540, bothof SEIU United Healthcare Workers - West
Web site: http://www.seiu-uhw.org/
