Stanford Hospital & Clinics (SHC) and Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital (LPCH) announced today that they have been forced to withdraw recognition of Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 715.
“We did not make this decision lightly,” said Lori Curry, vice president of human resources for SHC, “but believe we were legally compelled to take this step because Local 715 has failed in its duty to represent our employees.”
In 2006, the Hospitals negotiated a new contract with Local 715, the sole legal representative of the employees represented under the collective bargaining agreement. Since then, however, the International Union has directed the leadership of Local 715, which has also merged into a new union, Local 521, to transfer representation to yet another union, United Healthcare Workers (UHW), all without the employees’ consent.
“The Hospitals cannot recognize UHW as our employees’ representative because that union was not elected directly by our employees,” said Greg Souza, vice president of human resources for LPCH. “Fairness and the law require a National Labor Relations Board election in order to change employee representation.”
SEIU Local 715 had been representing approximately 1450 housekeepers, food service workers, nursing assistants, phlebotomists, unit secretaries, transporters and employees in non-technical and non-professional titles at the hospitals. These employees will continue their employment but without representation by the now-dissolved SEIU Local 715. “We remain committed to providing competitive wages and benefits to all of our employees, whether they are represented by a union or not,” said Curry.
About Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital
Ranked as one of the nation’s top pediatric hospitals in the nation by U.S.News & World Report, Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital at Stanford is a 272-bed hospital devoted to the care of children and expectant mothers. Providing pediatric and obstetric medical and surgical services and associated with the Stanford University School of Medicine, Packard Children’s offers patients locally, regionally and nationally the full range of health care programs and services, from preventive and routine care to the diagnosis and treatment of serious illness and injury. For more information, visit http://www.lpch.org.
About Stanford Hospital & Clinics
Stanford Hospital & Clinics is known worldwide for advanced treatment of complex disorders in areas such as cardiac care, cancer treatment, neurosciences, surgery, and organ transplants. Ranked #16 on the U.S. News & World Report annual list of “America’s Best Hospitals,” Stanford Hospital & Clinics is internationally recognized for translating medical breakthroughs into the care of patients. The Hospital is part of the Stanford University Medical Center, along with the Stanford University School of Medicine and Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital at Stanford. For more information, visit www.stanfordhospital.com.
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