WATSONVILLE, Calif., March 11 /PRNewswire/ --
When: Monday, March 14, 2005 12:00 Noon Where: Watsonville Community Hospital 75 Nielson Street Watsonville, CA 95076
While other hospitals including Kaiser and Catholic Healthcare West have negotiated fair and equitable contracts with their workers, the management at Watsonville Community Hospital (WCH), which is owned by the highly profitable Community Health Systems in Tennessee), have not shown progress in negotiations that would improve patient care and bring WCH caregivers up to the standards of other Northern California hospitals.
WCH caregivers, supported by local elected officials, EMS workers, caregivers from Dominican Hospital and other community leaders will hold a rally to encourage the company to put patients and caregivers above profits.
“I’ve worked as an OR Tech for decades, and I love caring for my patients. However, WCH makes it difficult for me and my co-workers to make a decent living, upgrade our skills, or have a pension that we can count on when we retire. WCH is at the bottom of the barrel when compared to other local hospitals,” stated Butch Cole, OR Tech at WCH.
Workers at WCH are seeking a contract that provides workers with a training and upgrade fund, competitive wages and an improved retiree pension and health care plan.
While progress at the bargaining table seems to have been stalled, caregivers are hopeful that the company has scheduled bargaining for later in the week with an eye toward reaching an agreement.
SEIU United Healthcare Workers-West, with more than 130,000 members, is the largest and most powerful healthcare union in the Western U.S. We represent every type of healthcare worker, including nursing, professional, technical and service classifications. Our mission is to achieve high quality healthcare for all.
Media Contact: Kay Carney 510-773-7229 or Kathleen Miller 510-773-7102
SEIU United Healthcare Workers-West
CONTACT: Kay Carney, +1-510-773-7229 or Kathleen Miller +1-510-773-7102,both of SEIU United Healthcare Workers-West
Web site: http://www.seiu-uhw.org/