Caregivers Announce June 12th Strike at Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center

BURBANK, Calif., May 31 /PRNewswire/ — 1,500 Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center caregivers have announced they will hold a one-day strike on June 12th, protesting unfair labor practices and calling on the hospital to work with its employees on issues affecting patient care. The striking workers will include Registered Nurses, Licensed Vocational Nurses, Technicians such as Radiology Technologists, Certified Nurse Assistants, Environmental Service Workers, Dietary, Respiratory Therapists, and other healthcare workers who are represented by SEIU United Healthcare Workers-West and SEIU Local 121RN.

“I love this hospital and that’s why I’m standing up for a meaningful voice in decisions that effect our patients,” said Everly Canaria, RN. “We voted to strike because we want to make healthcare work for our patients, our families and our community.”

Caregivers have been negotiating with the hospital since February and are fighting for safe staffing protections, job security, training and education, fair pay and a secure retirement — industry standards already adopted by virtually every other major California hospital systems, such as Catholic Healthcare West, Daughters of Charity, Kaiser Permanente and many others.

“Providence is one of the wealthiest health systems in the country,” said Gabriel Alcantara, Lab Assistant. “All we want is for them to provide what other hospitals provide their employees including a say in staffing decisions that affect our patients. Instead, they have refused to listen to our concerns and have engaged in intimidation and surveillance of employees who are working to achieve a fair contract.”

Employees have been working without a contract since April 1st. They notified hospital administration today of their intention to hold the one-day strike. Negotiation sessions are scheduled for June 4th and June 7th.

SEIU United Healthcare Workers-West and SEIU Local 121RN represents more than 147,000 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.

SEIU UHW-West

CONTACT: Tadzio Garcia of SEIU UHW-West, +1-213-300-8974,tgarcia@seiu-uhw.org

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