Inter-Con Security Officers to Launch Strikes at Kaiser Hospitals Across California

Inter-Con Security Officers to Launch Strikes at Kaiser Hospitals Across
California
Officers Issue 10-Day Notice of Unfair Labor Practice Strike

OAKLAND, Calif., April 25 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Security officers at
Kaiser Permanente hospitals are ramping up their fight against employer
Inter-Con, today issuing 10-day notice of an unfair labor practice strike in
California to defend their civil rights. Inter-Con workers held the first-ever
strike by hospital security officers last month in response to Inter-Con
threatening, intimidating, and spying on workers who were trying to form a
union for better conditions. Strikes will be held May 6, 7, and 8.
(Photo: here )
"We wanted a union for better pay and benefits -- just like other workers
inside Kaiser. But instead we've got Inter-Con violating our civil rights. We
go to work every day to protect these patients and employees, but we have no
protections ourselves," said Warren Chauvin, Fremont.
Momentum from the first strike has built as Inter-Con continues to break
the law and violate workers' civil rights. The strike could cover more than
240 workers. Officers will also hold solidarity activities at Kaiser in
Colorado, DC, Ohio and Virginia during the California strike.
Inter-Con officers work for poverty wages, many making as little as
$9/hour while at Kaiser. Many Inter-Con officers cannot afford the family
healthcare coverage and do not have paid sick days. By comparison, facility
janitors have free family healthcare, make a minimum of $11.50/hour and accrue
paid sick leave.
"Without paid sick days, many of us are forced to work while we're sick.
If I were to have to miss even one week I would be in danger of losing my
apartment," said Dale Brown, Sacramento. "Plus I'm a single mother, and the
insurance plan is too expensive for me to enroll my two kids."
Since November 2005, 1,500 Inter-Con security officers at Kaiser in
California have been working to improve security and working conditions by
forming a union with SEIU. They are the only workers at Kaiser who do not have
a union, fair pay, free family healthcare, paid sick leave and more.
Inter-Con also still owes security officers $4 million in recovered wages
for requiring employees to work off the clock. The money was part of a
settlement issued in Sept. 2007 for a class-action lawsuit against Inter-Con.
For more information: www.StandforSecurity.org
SOURCE SEIU

Jennifer Kelly of SEIU, +1-213-300-3336