Medical providers at AIDS Healthcare Foundation petition to join NUHW
On Friday, September 27, in observance of National Gay Men’s HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, the medical providers at the AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), joined by patients and other supporters, held a press conference on the steps of AHF’s Hollywood headquarters to talk about their effort to form a union with the National Union of Healthcare Workers (NUHW). The providers are frustrated by the attempt of AHF Director Michael Weinstein to thwart their efforts. Providers filed a petition on July 27 with the NLRB, but Weinstein has filed frivolous legal challenges since then to try to delay the vote.
Check out the pictures from our event on our Facebook page.
Based in Los Angeles, AHF is a global organization with testing sites and healthcare centers, serving 200,000 patients in 28 countries with a mission of providing cutting-edge medicine and advocacy. Founded by Michael Weinstein, AHF is the largest provider of HIV/AIDS medical care in the United States. With 12 medical centers in California, AHF serves more than 8,000 patients in nine medical centers in the Los Angeles metro area as well as San Francisco, Oakland and Upland, California. According to the Nonprofit Quarterly, revenues for AHF “have doubled since 2008, rising throughout the recession, but its fund balance has tripled. These are the kinds of financial reports that often spark employees—whether middle managers or rank-and-file—to think about their labor rights.”
Felipe Findlay, an AHF Physician’s Assistant stated: “I am so very proud of all the providers and patients that came out to support our rally on Friday. AHFs profits are growing exponentially, yet staffing is inadequate and patient care is suffering! I look forward to the continued struggle to have our union be recognized so we can address these concerns.”
The Friday press conference has focused considerable attention on Weinstein’s delaying tactics, in addition to the article in the Nonprofit Quarterly were additional pieces in the LA Times, and the LA Daily News.