Healthcare Workers Take a Stand for Patient Care at Stanford Hospital
Labor Desk
August 05, 2009
UHW-SEIU members deliver message directly to management, they want a fair contract ensuring quality care.
Palo Alto, CA - In a show of unity yesterday, more than 70 healthcare workers at Stanford Hospital and sister facility Lucille Packard Children's Hospital – joined by State Assembly Member Ira Ruskin and East Palo Alto Mayor Ruben Abrica – hand-delivered a petition, signed by hundreds more of their co-workers, to hospital management calling for a contract that ensures quality care with wages and benefits that line up with other hospitals in the area, so that experienced caregivers stay at Stanford.
In the petition members stated, "In these tough economic times, having a union contract is very important to us! For far too long we have gone without a contract at Stanford Hospital and Lucille Packard Children's Hospital. We give 100 percent every day and deserve a contract that reflects our valuable contribution to patient care to help Stanford Hospital thrive." The petition went on to say, "We are committed to do everything, including authorizing a picket and/or strike to fight for a decent contract."
Stanford Hospital is thriving and currently planning a $3.6 billion hospital expansion – excellent news in this tough economy. However in its most recent contract proposal, Stanford management offered its employees a mere 1 percent wage increase per year, clearly putting expansion ahead of patient care, staffing and other concerns.
"Its good for the hospital and the patients to pay workers a decent wage," said Linda Cornell, a unit secretary at Stanford Hospital, before leading the group to meet management. "Instead, officials at Stanford Hospital earn top dollars while nurse assistants and unit secretaries are told that their hours will be cut, and while radiology techs are let go because of budget scare tactics."
Palo Alto City Councilmember Yiaway Yeh also sent a letter to the CEOs of Stanford Hospital and Lucile Packard Children's Hospital (LPCH) in support of the workers. In his letter he wrote, "As Stanford Hospitals and Clinics and LPCH progress with their renewal projects, we must remember that these buildings serve their function best when those who work there are treated with respect and as integral stakeholders. Just as hospital management focuses on the highest quality care, I hope it remains committed to competitive compensation to ensure that the best quality care is attained."
The petition that was delivered is the start of a series of actions that UHW-SEIU members are planning to take to raise awareness of the failure of management to bargain. Workers are considering leafleting, public awareness campaigns and other more serious options – including potential strikes.
Palo Alto, CA - In a show of unity yesterday, more than 70 healthcare workers at Stanford Hospital and sister facility Lucille Packard Children's Hospital – joined by State Assembly Member Ira Ruskin and East Palo Alto Mayor Ruben Abrica – hand-delivered a petition, signed by hundreds more of their co-workers, to hospital management calling for a contract that ensures quality care with wages and benefits that line up with other hospitals in the area, so that experienced caregivers stay at Stanford.
In the petition members stated, "In these tough economic times, having a union contract is very important to us! For far too long we have gone without a contract at Stanford Hospital and Lucille Packard Children's Hospital. We give 100 percent every day and deserve a contract that reflects our valuable contribution to patient care to help Stanford Hospital thrive." The petition went on to say, "We are committed to do everything, including authorizing a picket and/or strike to fight for a decent contract."
Stanford Hospital is thriving and currently planning a $3.6 billion hospital expansion – excellent news in this tough economy. However in its most recent contract proposal, Stanford management offered its employees a mere 1 percent wage increase per year, clearly putting expansion ahead of patient care, staffing and other concerns.
"Its good for the hospital and the patients to pay workers a decent wage," said Linda Cornell, a unit secretary at Stanford Hospital, before leading the group to meet management. "Instead, officials at Stanford Hospital earn top dollars while nurse assistants and unit secretaries are told that their hours will be cut, and while radiology techs are let go because of budget scare tactics."
Palo Alto City Councilmember Yiaway Yeh also sent a letter to the CEOs of Stanford Hospital and Lucile Packard Children's Hospital (LPCH) in support of the workers. In his letter he wrote, "As Stanford Hospitals and Clinics and LPCH progress with their renewal projects, we must remember that these buildings serve their function best when those who work there are treated with respect and as integral stakeholders. Just as hospital management focuses on the highest quality care, I hope it remains committed to competitive compensation to ensure that the best quality care is attained."
The petition that was delivered is the start of a series of actions that UHW-SEIU members are planning to take to raise awareness of the failure of management to bargain. Workers are considering leafleting, public awareness campaigns and other more serious options – including potential strikes.
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