CHICAGO, Oct. 14 /PRNewswire/ -- Local 743 members who work at Rush University Hospital rallied today to protect their health care. The members and their union are currently in contract negotiations with the hospital. Negotiations began in May.
"These are the people who kept the administration working, and the administration is trying to gut their health care," said Robert Walston, Local 743 President. "Rush administrators are trying to double the cost of the workers' health care, reduce vacation and sick leave and have neglected to offer a wage increase."
The Teamsters Union represents housekeeping, transportation, dietary and cafeteria workers, clerks, truck drivers, Certified Nurses Assistants, Pediatric Nursing assistants, engineering workers and many others.
While dragging on negotiations with its employees, Rush administrators have been enjoying more than a million dollars in salary increases. The same group gave exiting Rush CEO Leo Henikoff a $4 million lump sum retirement payment.
"Like doctors and nurses, all of these employees face dangers because they work in the health care field," Walston said. "To attempt to cut their health care is an insult and dangerous to the community."
International Brotherhood of TeamstersCONTACT: Brian Rainville, +1-202-437-6367, or Reggie Ford,+1-312-282-5560, both of International Brotherhood of Teamsters
Web site: http://www.teamster.org/