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On Strike: Hundreds of Local Healthcare Workers Protest for Better Wages, Working Conditions
By
Gene C. Johnson Jr.
Bulletin
Staff Writer
COMPTON—Hoping
to avoid what they believe to be the same fate that fell upon King
Hospital, several hundred healthcare workers held what they called
a one-day strike Aug. 28 in front of St. Francis Medical Center in
Lynwood as a “short statement of power” in their pursuit
of better wages, better benefits and better working conditions.
The one-day strike began at 6 a.m. and continued for 24 hours at
five different state hospitals that employ workers representing the SEIU
United Healthcare Workers-West (UHCWW).
Those five other hospitals included Seton Medical Center in Daly
City, Seton Coastside in Moss Beach, St. Louise Regional Hospital in Gilroy
and O’Connor Hospital in San Jose.
According to Blinker Wood, communication specialist for the UHCWW,
the union has been negotiating with the Daughters of Charity Health System
(DOCHS), a statewide nonprofit healthcare system representing St. Francis
Medical Center, since March.
Wood said that healthcare employees have been working without a contract
since April 30. Officials said healthcare workers organized the strike
in response to DOCHS’ attempt to undermine the voice of caregivers
in how quality care is delivered and to protest a series of unfair labor
practices committed by hospital management.
“A lot of us realize, and have been there before, that you have to
sacrifice, you have to take the risks in order to advance, to order
to better (yourself); in order to take care of your family, you have to
take
a stand,” said George Jorge Rodriguez, vice president of UHCWW.
“This (strike) is a short statement of our power, of our resolve,
of our determination to improve our work life and to fight for better
wages, better benefits and better working conditions. Most of all, it’s
about fighting for respect,” Rodriguez said.
Nevertheless, Trish Baseman, a vice-president at St. Francis Hospital,
said hospital management has been bargaining in good faith with union representatives
as a part of its quest for a contract that is “fair and equitable
for both sides” so the hospital can “continue to serve the
community.”
“We have always been committed to fair wages for all of our associates
and we’ll continue to do that through this negotiation,” said
Baseman, who added that more than 60 percent of the union’s employees
chose to come to work during the strike. “We don’t’ really
know exactly what the sticking point is.
“You know it was just the union’s choice to go out (and strike)
and they wanted us to know that this is an important issue for them—and
they want this contract done. We’re doing everything we can to get
it (the contract) done.”
While hospital management and union representatives try to hash out
a date and time for another bargaining session, elected officials or their
representatives took to the podium situated in front of St. Francis Medical
Center to express their support for the healthcare workers’ strike.
“As you know, the closures of several hospitals in Los Angeles—especially
MLK—have created a huge impact on St. Francis and the patients that
you (striking healthcare workers) have to care for,” said Michelle
de Santiago, a spokeswoman for Assemblyman Hector De La Torre (D-South
Gate).
“What would otherwise come to MLK is now coming to St. Francis,” de
Santiago said. “The frontline healthcare workers are carrying the
brunt of this devastation. It is essential that management and the
workforce work together and not get stuck in negotiations. The partnership
between
labor and management needs to be re-built.”
Other officials or their representatives lending their support included
a spokeswoman from the offices of Assembly Speaker Emeritus Fabian Nunez
(D-Los Angeles) and Assemblyman Mervyn M. Dymally (D-Compton), as well
as Compton school trustee Emma Sharif.
“We cannot stand by and let another one of our hospitals fail to
provide the services that everyone needs—especially here in Lynwood,” said
Julia Juarez, a spokeswoman for Nunez. “We stand by you. We urge
the workers, we urge our administration, to come together, to come
to the bargaining table.”
“We’re fighting against a modern day Goliath in St. Francis,” added
the Rev. Tony Muhammed of the Nation of Islam. “But she can be brought
down. And I believe God will do for you what he did for David. If
you stand together as one solid wall, you will (see) St. Francis begin
to kneel,
bow and then fall: Then you can take the sword of St. Francis, which
represents the truth, begin to negotiate and then get what you rightfully
deserve.
I wouldn’t come to St. Francis if you (healthcare workers) were not
there to check me in.”
The UHCWW was formed in 2005 when the members of two local SEIUs—250
in Northern California and 399 in Southern California—voted overwhelmingly
to unify.
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