SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 16 /PRNewswire/ -- Andy Stern, president of the Service Employees International Union, told caregivers forced out on strike by Sutter California Pacific Medical Center that they have the full support not only of 1.8 million SEIU members, but also millions of other union members across the country.
As a measure of that support, Stern pledged $250,000 a week to help striking caregivers cope without a paycheck until a just settlement is reached. Sal Rosselli, president of SEIU UHW, said the additional SEIU donation sends a strong message to CPMC and its parent, Sutter Health, that caregivers have both the will and the means to continue their fight to improve patient care at Sutter facilities.
"Our members want nothing more than to get back to the work of caring for their patients," Rosselli said. "CPMC and Sutter Health forced caregivers into this position, and our members have no choice but to see it through. We even had a federal mediator lay out a settlement proposal -- a compromise that we agreed to in order to avoid a strike -- but CPMC and Sutter refused. Shame on these corporate executives who put profits ahead of patients."
Della Reed, a Licensed Vocational Nurse at Sutter CPMC for 27 years, thanked Stern and expressed her determination and that of her coworkers to win a strong voice for patient care. "I'm fighting to make sure that I can give my patients the same quality care that I would want for my family," she said.
Stern appeared on the picket line with a number of labor leaders representing a broad spectrum of workers, including Sean Harrigan, vice president of the United Food and Commercial Workers, and Chuck Mack, president of the Western State Conference of the Teamsters, as community and political support continued to build for the striking caregivers. Stern denounced Sutter Health's heavy-handed tactics in dealing with its caregivers, saying it is symptomatic of a national problem of corporations running roughshod over their employees.
"There's a problem with the law when a supposedly nonprofit corporation like Sutter Health can spend millions of dollars on union-busting law firms and muscled-up security guards to try to intimidate caregivers who are only trying to protect their patients," Stern said. "All caregivers are asking for is a voice on staffing issues, a training fund and protections for speaking out on behalf of patients."
The UFCW's Harrigan, who is a former board member of CalPERS, the nation's largest health care fund, assailed Sutter for its poor record on charity care and high prices, which CalPERS found is 80 percent higher than the state average. Sutter CPMC reaped more than $375 million in profits over a three year period.
The UFCW and Teamsters are part of the Change to Win Coalition, along with SEIU, UNITE-HERE, the Carpenters, Laborers and Farm Workers. But the strength of the Sutter CPMC caregivers' support was underscored by the appearance at the rally by union leaders not aligned with new coalition, including AFL-CIO leaders Art Pulaski, President of the California State Federation of Labor, and James Spinosa, International President of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union, AFL-CIO. Also speaking was Sutter CPMC RN Jonita Brooks of the independent California Nurses Association. The Change Coalition is launched officially at its founding convention in St. Louis on Sept. 27.
"The labor movement is alive and kicking, and this fight against CPMC and Sutter Health is evidence that our aggressive new coalition is taking hold and building worker power," Stern said. "We owe a debt of gratitude to unions in the Bay Area who are showing that solidarity still works. Because of the determination and unity of our caregivers here, I feel a great sense of hope for our movement. We are changing to win."
SEIU United Healthcare Workers - West, with more than 140,000 members, is the largest healthcare union in the Western United States. We represent every type of healthcare worker, including nursing, professional, technical and service classifications. Our mission is to achieve quality healthcare for all.
CONTACT: Thea Lavin 510-520-7732 Kay Carney 510-773-7229
SEIU United Healthcare Workers-WestCONTACT: Thea Lavin, +1-510-520-7732, or Kay Carney, +1-510-773-7229, bothfor SEIU United Healthcare Workers-West
Web site: http://www.seiu-uhw.org/
