Thousands of California Healthcare Workers Strike to Protect Their Patients

Daughters of Charity Health System Continues to Jeopardize Patient Care

LOS ANGELES, Aug. 27 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Thousands of healthcare
workers will hold a one-day strike statewide 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 on Thursday, August 28 at 6:00 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.
"Unfortunately, Daughters of Charity has ignored our call to help improve
patient care for several months," said Velma Jones, a Licensed Vocational
Nurse at St. Francis Medical Center. "We were forced to strike so management
can't refuse our pleas any longer. Our patients must come first!"
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. This puts 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
7:00 a.m. picket line rally
12:00 p.m. program & media event

WHERE: St. Francis Medical Center, Main Hospital Entrance
3630 E. Imperial Highway (Intersection of Martin Luther King Blvd.)
Lynwood, CA 90262

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: Blinker Wood of SEIU United Healthcare Workers-West,
+1-323-434-5733, bwood@seiu-uhw.org
SOURCE SEIU United Healthcare Workers-West

Blinker Wood of SEIU United Healthcare Workers-West, +1-323-434-5733,
bwood@seiu-uhw.org