Unions File Charges Against Tenet Healthcare Corporation

SANTA ANA, Calif., Sept. 26 /PRNewswire/ — SEIU United Healthcare Workers-West and SEIU Local 121RN have filed for injunctive relief seeking to stop Tenet Healthcare Corp. from cutting health benefits for nearly 7,000 California hospital employees, including registered nurses, pharmacists, licensed vocational nurses, respiratory care practitioners, radiology technicians, surgical technicians, and certified nursing assistants.

Workers represented by the two unions have been in negotiations with Tenet Healthcare for nearly a year. In June, Tenet and the workers reached an agreement on maintaining all health benefits and costs. Last week, however, Tenet changed their position and announced that they plan to cut benefits beginning in November, during the open enrollment period with PacifiCare, which administers the corporation’s health plan.

“Other hospital chains have worked collaboratively with healthcare workers on ensuring those who dedicate their lives to providing healthcare don’t lose their own healthcare,” said Sina Howe, an LVN at Garden Grove Hospital. “We are dedicated to delivering quality care, and that’s why we are fighting for a contract that puts patients first.”

The unions have filed Unfair Labor Practice charges with the National Labor Relations Board against 14 California hospitals and Tenet Healthcare Corp. for failure to bargain over changes to the health plan. Hospitals affected include:

   Desert Regional Medical Center,                  John F. Kennedy    Palm Springs                                     Memorial Hospital, Indio   Doctors Hospital of Manteca                      Lakewood Regional                                                     Medical Center   Doctors Medical Center of Modesto                Los Alamitos Medical                                                     Center   Encino-Tarzana Regional Medical                  San Ramon Regional    Center, Encino Campus                           Medical Center   Encino-Tarzana Regional Medical                  Sierra Vista Regional    Center, Tarzana Campus                          Medical Center, San Luis                                                     Obispo   Garden Grove Hospital and Medical                Twin Cities Community    Center                                           Hospital, Templeton   Irvine Regional Hospital and Medical             USC University Hospital,    Center                                           Los Angeles    

“This is the ultimate measure of disrespect that Tenet has shown its dedicated employees,” said Ranell Ross, Doctors Hospital of Manteca. “Despite Tenet’s multiple problems and failures in turning around this troubled corporation, their employees have been there each and every day delivering the best care possible under severe circumstances. Cutting back on employees’ healthcare is about as low as this corporation can go.”

SEIU United Healthcare Workers-West and SEIU Local 121RN represent more than 152,000 healthcare workers in California. Together both locals represent every type of healthcare worker including nursing, professional, technical and service classifications, with mission to achieve high quality healthcare for all.

CONTACT: Tadzio Garcia (213) 300-8974

Mason Stockstill (510) 206-8247

SEIU United Healthcare Workers-West; SEIU Local 121RN

CONTACT: Tadzio Garcia, +1-213-300-8974, or Mason Stockstill,+1-510-206-8247, both for SEIU United Healthcare Workers-West and SEIU Local121RN

Web site: http://www.seiu-uhw.org/