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French Hospital employees considering strike

June 20, 2012

The union representing employees at French Hospital Medical Center in San Luis Obispo and Marian Regional Medical Center in Santa Maria has announced plans for a three-day strike starting 11 p.m. on June 26. [MercuryNews]

Labor and management of Dignity Health, the parent company of both hospitals, have been unable to reach an agreement on a new contract to replace a four-year agreement that expired April 30.

More than 7,000 members of the Service Employees International Union-United Healthcare Workers, which represents housekeepers, janitors, licensed vocational nurses and nursing assistants, voted. Of those, 90 percent voted for the strike.

The union objects to Dignity Health’s proposed across the board two-year salary freeze and cuts to benefits.

Union spokeswoman Carlyn Foster argues that Dignity Health is working to subcontract jobs while employees want job security.

“Our goal is to reach a contract by the end of the week,” Union spokeswoman Carlyn Foster told the Mercury News.

Dignity Health, a non-profit, posted $917 million in profits in 2010-11.


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As a former employee of CHW at French Hospital, I can tell you it is a miserable place to work. CHW is top heavy with layers upon layers of management. They have more ‘Directors’ than MGM. There is an arrogant ‘kiss the ring’ attitude that emanates throughout the organization. It is generally a hostile working environment where the management treat themselves very well indeed with pay, benefits, and out of town junkets.


I hope the union prevails.


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I beleive the food chain goes like this: Insuance companies( hear no evil), Hospital Corps.(see no evil), Doctors, Nurses and Support Staff(speak no evil). I support collective bargining for the most deserving advocates for the patient. The funding to manage risk is questionable at best.


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I believe in fairness and equal opportunity.


If any employee or group of employees is dissatisfied with pay/work conditions or anything else, they should have the right to strike or quit and take a job that meets their requirements.


Also . . If any employer is dissatisfied with employee action (like not showing up to work – on strike) then they should have the right to fire them and hire others that will show up for work.


If any employee makes a mistake by misjudging his/her value in the employee/employer relation, and gets replaced and can not get an equal/better job then they suffer the consequences of their actions. They are out of the equation and have made room for someone who wants and can do the jobs better than they. Accountability.


If any employer makes a mistake by misjudging their position in the employee/employer relationship and can not find equal or better employees to replace the ones that they fired, then they suffer the consequences of their actions and their business suffers and/or they go out of business. Then they are out of the equation and have made room for another business that will use better judgement. Accountability.


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You also seem to believe in personal responsibility, so rare in today’s world


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“Dignity Health, a non-profit, posted $917 million in profits in 2010-11.”


Seems like there could be some trickle down to those on the bottom with that profit margin. Isn’t that supposed to be how it works?


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7% a year for each of the past four years ain’t jack, Jack!


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I would love to see some of the profits from the “non-profit hospitals” be used to provide care to the poor. It is a crime that the local 2 for profit hospitals do about 70% of charitable care in this county while the so called not for profit hospitals only do 30%

Dignity exisits for the benefit of their managment.


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^^^ We’re awaiting the “Union Bashers”, where are you? ^^^


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They are all off praying to Zeus that they don’t get sick


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Sure Zeus the windbag. Panacea, Hygieia or Asclepius would be better choices.

Oh and get some goats, there going to need them.


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Zeus is a piker ! They should have to deal with ODIN ! Man, that dudes crabby !

Or Shiva…or even worse, KALI, the permanent PMS goddess !


Us GODLY Christians know how to revere our women and keep them in line !


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