NUHW Pulse – May 2018
Welcome to the May 2018 edition of our union’s e-newsletter. In recent weeks, NUHW members have won a strong first contract for Sodexo workers at Fountain Valley Regional Hospital, triggered a state audit that slammed the Department of Public Health for poor oversight of nursing homes, sounded the alarm about Sutter Health driving up health care costs, and volunteered to elect pro-worker candidates in the June 5 Primary election. Check out the stories below, and be sure to follow us on Facebook, too.
Sodexo workers at Fountain Valley win big raises
By a near unanimous vote, Sodexo housekeepers and food service workers at Fountain Valley Regional Hospital approved a contract that will boost salaries by as much as 42 percent over the next 18 months. Click here to read the story.
Triggered by NUHW report, state audit slams nursing home oversight
California State Auditor Elaine Howle found that the California Department of Public Health has failed to perform necessary inspections or issue timely citations for substandard care. Click here to read our story.
NUHW members volunteer to elect allies in June Primary
Our volunteers in Southern California and the Bay Area knocked on doors and made phone calls to help elect Mark Leno mayor of San Francisco and keep Josh Newman in the State Senate. Click here to read the story.
Providence Tarzana workers picket for a fair contract
After seven months of negotiations, more than 100 caregivers picketed outside Providence Tarzana Medical Center on Tuesday, May 22 to protest the hospital’s unfair labor practices and unwillingness to propose fair wage increases that keep pace with the region’s rising cost of living. Click here to read our story.
Op-Ed: Calling out Sutter’s illegal pricing
In a San Francisco Examiner commentary, NUHW President Sal Rosselli praises California Attorney General Xavier Becerra for filing a lawsuit against Sutter Health charging the industry giant with inflating prices for patients in Northern California. Click here to read the op-ed.
Steward Spotlight: Kari Helgeson
Kari Helgeson learned teamwork as a young swimmer in Colorado and has applied those lessons as a Radiology Tech to help build a strong union at St. Joseph Hospital Eureka. Click here to read the story.
News of the Month
Click here to check out our roundup of the latest labor and healthcare news from top media outlets.