CASTRO VALLEY, Calif., March 7 /PRNewswire/ -- Eden Medical Center has promised to indefinitely lock out 300 caregivers represented by SEIU United Healthcare Workers-West (UHW) when they attempt to return to work after their scheduled seven day Unfair Labor Practices Strike ends at 6 a.m. this morning. The caregivers, who work as Licensed Vocational Nurses, Certified Nursing Assistants, Operating Room Technicians, Clerical Staff, and other hospital classifications, have been on strike since February 28th. Negotiations between hospital management and UHW bargaining unit members are scheduled to go on as planned today at noon. U.S. Congresswoman Barbara Lee will mediate the negotiations.
"The hospital is using the lock-out as a bargaining tactic. They think that by locking us out we will be weakened into accepting less than an industry standard contract. This is an example of Eden's misplaced priorities- instead of settling a contract and letting caregivers return to work, they would rather continue their anti-union campaign and bargain in bad faith," said Mira Prasad, who has worked as Certified Nursing Assistant at Eden Medical Center for ten years.
The promised lock-out arrives on the same day that dozens of legislative leaders will present community members with an open letter in support of striking caregivers: "These caregivers are not asking Sutter Eden Medical Center to break any new ground, only to agree to the industry standards which Kaiser, CHW and every other Sutter hospital in the Bay Area have already adopted. These reasonable standards are designed to protect patients and make Sutter Eden Medical Center the best place to work and receive care."
The standards sought by UHW caregivers include a real voice for caregivers in staffing levels, an employee education fund, and the right for other hospital workers to join a union without harassment or intimidation by management. All of these standards have been adopted by Sutter-owned Alta Bates Summit Medical Center, Sutter Solano Medical Center, Sutter Delta Medical Center, California Pacific Medical Center and St. Luke's Hospital. Caregivers at Eden Medical Center are also fighting for wage increases to match other Sutter affiliates in Alameda County.
150 members of the UHW Service Bargaining Unit at Eden Medical Center have been working without a contract since their last one expired on June 30, 2004. The unsettled contract will be the first for 150 members of the UHW Clerical Bargaining Unit.
Contact: Thea Lavin of SEIU United Healthcare Workers-West, cell, +1-510-520-7732.
SEIU United Healthcare Workers-WestCONTACT: Thea Lavin of SEIU United Healthcare Workers-West, cell,+1-510-520-7732
Web site: http://www.seiu-uhw.org//
