Thousands of California Healthcare Workers Strike to Protect Their Patients

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Wed Aug 27, 2008 1:57pm EDT 

Daughters of Charity Health System Continues to Jeopardize Patient Care

DALY CITY, Calif., Aug. 27 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Thousands of
healthcare workers will hold a one-day strike throughout California on
Thursday to improve patient care in the Daughters of Charity Health System.
Caregivers were forced to strike in response to management's refusal to
negotiate fairly over proposals aimed to help ensure quality medical treatment
and to protest several unfair labor practices employed by hospital
administrators.
    Caregivers will form picket lines at 6 a.m. and continue for 24 hours. The
demonstration will occur simultaneously at five hospitals: St. Francis Medical
Center near Los Angeles, Seton Medical Center in Daly City, Seton Coastside in
Moss Beach, St. Louise Regional Hospital in Gilroy, and O'Connor Hospital in
San Jose.
    More than 2,400 caregivers represented by SEIU United Healthcare Workers-
West have been in negotiations since March. Workers have proposed plans to
increase the ability to recruit and retain healthcare professionals and create
quality jobs in the industry.  However, administrators continue to bargain in
bad faith, and they have repeatedly dismissed common sense policies. These
actions are putting patient care at risk.
    WHAT:   Statewide strike to protect patient care

    WHO:    Healthcare workers, community allies, political supporters,
            & SEIU United Healthcare Workers-West

    WHEN:   Thursday, August 28
            7 a.m. picket line begins
            12 p.m. rally & program

    WHERE:  Seton Medical Center              St. Louise Regional Hospital
            1900 Sullivan Ave., Daly City     9400 No Name Uno, Gilroy

            Seton Medical Center Coastside    O'Connor Hospital
            600 Marine Blvd., Moss Beach      2105 Forest Ave., San Jose

    With more than 150,000 members, SEIU United Healthcare Workers-West is the
fastest-growing healthcare union in the United States. We represent healthcare
workers in all job classifications and all healthcare settings, including
hospitals, homecare, nursing homes and clinics. Our mission is to achieve
high-quality healthcare for all.
    CONTACT:
Mason Stockstill
    510-206-8247
SOURCE  SEIU United Healthcare Workers-West

Mason Stockstill of SEIU United Healthcare Workers-West, +1- 510-206-8247
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