Workers plan to protest outside of a California Pacific Medical Center campus in San Francisco this afternoon over what they say are attempts by hospital officials to reverse decades-old workplace protections.
The National Union of Healthcare Workers, which represents more than 650 employees at three CPMC campuses in San Francisco, is holding an informational picket at 1:30 p.m. at CPMC’s Pacific Campus at 2333 Buchanan St.
Union members have been working for about a year without a new contract and allege that CPMC, an affiliate of Sutter Health, is proposing drastic reductions in workers’ sick time and having them pay more for their health care.
“The caregivers aren’t really seeking some major advance, it’s really just maintaining what people have had,” said John Borsos, NUHW secretary-treasurer and lead union negotiator on the CPMC contract. “There’s absolutely no justification for them to seek to roll things back.”
The workers also plan to highlight the proposed Cathedral Hill hospital project, for which CPMC is still in negotiations with the city.
CPMC spokeswoman Kathie Graham said hospital officials are “committed to providing all employees with competitive wages, benefits and a great workplace environment.”
Graham said, “Sometimes this picketing happens during the negotiating process, but we’re optimistic that both parties are going to maintain a high level of professionalism.”
Borsos said the two sides are expected to meet again at the bargaining table on Oct. 30.
Dan McMenamin, Bay City News
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