Health Systems
SEIU Healthcare Illinois & Indiana is the voice of more than 4000 hospital and clinic workers, from dietary and housekeeping workers to nursing assistants to highly skilled technicians. We work in community hospitals and clinics, as well as top-rated healthcare centers.
In addition to uniting thousands of healthcare workers in Illinois, Northwest Indiana and Kansas City, SEIU Healthcare has worked to protect needed services at community hospitals and protect the healthcare safety net for many uninsured families. We’ve held leading for-profit hospital chains accountable to the communities they serve by fighting for improved charity care policies and against racial redlining in healthcare facility planning.
Research and Menorah Medical Centers ratify their first contract
On December 9th, healthcare workers at Research and Menorah Medical Centers in Kansas City ratified their first ever union contract, with an overwhelming 92% voting yes. Since January 2011, members at both hospitals have been at the bargaining table, negotiating with one of the largest hospital chains in the US.
Employees at Research and Menorah have supported forming a union at their hospital for quite some time, and they finally won their union last year. By ratifying their first contract, workers at Research and Menorah have now completed the organizing process and are officially members of SEIU Healthcare IL/IN/MO/KS.
“This is a great win for our hospitals and for all of the working people in Kansas City,” said Anthony Baker, an EVS at Menorah.
Throughout the year-long contract campaign, workers at both hospitals have come together to take action, from organizing sticker days to delivering cakes to management to holding rallies. By standing together, Research and Menorah workers won a strong contract and through the process, formed a strong union.
“It’s great to finally have a voice in the way things are done here at RMC!” said Corita Brown, a dietary worker at Research.
Research and Menorah workers won a strong contract that includes:
- Wage increases
- Job Security
- Right to grievance and arbitration procedure
- Attendance relief
- Staffing language
- Removal of salary caps
- Ratification bonus
MO and IN members team up to beat bad bill in Ohio
When Ohio Governor John Kasich followed in Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker’s footsteps by signing a bill (SB5) decimating the collective bargaining rights of public sector employees, SEIU Healthcare members jumped up to stop him.
Members knocked knocked on almost 7000 doors in a week to educate Ohio voters about SB5. Their efforts helped the bill to be repealed!
Unlike Wisconsin’s, Ohio’s constitution allows for a citizen’s veto, giving residents a chance to bring a bad bill to a ballot–if they can gather enough signatures.
With help from fifteen of our members, organizers gathered 1.3 million signatures, giving voters the opportunity to send the message that working people aren’t going to accept attacks on our bargaining rights.
“These Republican governors all over the country are trying to cut out the middle class. We want the whole country to see what’s going on and say, enough is enough,” said McKinley Williams, a groundskeeper at Methodist Hospital in Gary, IN who spent a week in Cleveland knocking on doors to educate residents about the devastating impact of SB5.
“I met a lot of people in the area whose lives would have been immediately affected by this bill–teachers, state workers, city workers, and more,” said Ella Giles, a home care worker in St. Louis. “But even most of the people who weren’t going to be affected right away were on our side, because people know that once they start chipping away at working people, it’s only a matter of time before they start chipping away at you.”
Excluding Election Day, Williams, Giles, and other members knocked on 6842 doors and had 2152 conversations with voters in just one week, getting support from more than 90% of them and leading 61% of Ohio voters to repeal the bad bill. As Gov. Walker’s recall heats up in Wisconsin, this victory not only protects good jobs for thousands of Ohio residents, but will have a real impact on our efforts to protect bargaining rights for working people all over the United States.
“The most recent polls show that the majority of people in Wisconsin want to recall Scott Walker,” McKinley said. “I’m fired up and ready to go to Wisconsin next!”
Fighting for our safety net in Gary, IN
Health care workers, elected officials, patients, and allies joined the growing chorus of Americans speaking out to protect vital Medicare and Medicaid funding at a rally in Gary, Indiana earlier this week.
While Congress decides whether to invest in the health of working people by continuing to fund Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security or to continue granting tax breaks to big banks and corporations, people like home care worker Vicky Hernandez are fighting hard to help Congress understand the devastating impact that funding cuts could have on some of our most vulnerable citizens.
“Medicaid pays for my consumer’s medication and for me to be there to help with things like showering, eating, and going to the bathroom–things that we all take for granted. Our lawmakers don’t have to think about losing these things. They don’t realize what these cuts mean,” Vicky said.
Home care worker Vicky Hernandez speaks out for her consumer, who relies on Medicaid to pay for the program that keeps her safe and independent living in her home.
In addition to the impact cuts would have on consumers, Vicky and other speakers at the rally addressed the impact cuts could have on our economy.
“If these cuts happen, patients will suffer. But so will thousands of health care workers who will lose their jobs. Cutting programs that keep people healthy and employed is no way to fix our economy,” said Tony Marshall, a CNA at Methodist Hospital in Gary, IN.
More and more of us are getting together to tell Congress that vital funding for Medicare, Medicaid, and child care programs is the last thing they should cut. Read more about our upcoming National Day of Action and find out how you can get involved.
Hear more from Tony and Vicky at the rally:
Hospital workers, community residents, and allies rally to protect Medicare and Medicaid
Workers, patients, and others whose lives would be negatively affected by the closure of Englewood’s St. Bernard Hospital gathered there on November 10th to say, “Hands off my Medicare!”
As Congress’ supercommittee works toward a decision about how to handle our nation’s debt crisis, working people all over the country are sending the message that cutting the funding that keeps vital safety-net hospitals running isn’t the way to fix our broken economy. In addition to leaving low-income and elderly community members high and dry when it comes to their health, hospital closures due to Medicaid and Medicare cutbacks will put thousands of health care providers out of work–61,000 in Illinois alone.
Englewood resident Frances Smith tells the crowd how the closure of St. Bernard Hospital would affect her health.
“People like Ms. Frances count on this hospital,” said St. Bernard Unit Secretary Veronica Powell, referring to a resident of a nearby retirement building who also spoke at the rally. “Cutting the funding that keeps St. Bernard open means cutting off their lifeline to the care they need.”
“And, cutting funding means cutting jobs from our economy,” Veronica added. “St. Bernard is the largest employer in Englewood–if this place closes, I’ll be out of a job, along with nearly 700 other workers.”
Hear more from Veronica and Frances Smith:
Members ally with seniors to protect Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security
Traffic outside of Chicago’s Federal Plaza ground to a halt on November 7th as SEIU Healthcare Illinois and Indiana members, seniors, community, labor, and religious allies, and more gathered to urge elected officials to keep Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security fully funded.
Before nearly 50 activists were peacefully arrested for occupying the Jackson and Clark intersection, hundreds gathered in the Plaza itself to hear testimony from elected officials and from those who would be devastated by a federal budget that slashes safety-net funding.
Flora Johnson spoke to defend her son's health care and independence.
Home care member Flora Johnson brought her son Kenneth, who has cerebral palsy, to the action to illustrate what these programs mean for thousands of Illinois families.
“If Congress cuts these programs, my son could lose his wheelchair because if it breaks, I can’t afford to fix it. He wouldn’t be able to get his flu shots and asthma medication,” Flora said, addressing the crowd. “I’ve worked all my life and contributed to society, and like millions of others, I’m telling Congress to save Medicaid and make the wealthy pay their fair share!”
Rose Crawford, a Chicago PA, took arrest to help send the message that cutting Medicaid and other programs is bad for everyone–those who need care, those who work to provide it, and the economy as a whole.
“My client is a 59-year-old man with degenerative arthritis and COPD. He can’t stand up to make food for himself and clean his house, but he can live in his home with dignity if he has a little help. If Congress cuts these programs, he’ll be institutionalized in a nursing home that costs the state more than home care does, and I’ll be out of work and in the unemployment line. That’s why we’re out here, taking the streets and getting arrested–these programs matter.”
Visit our photostream to see more pictures of this event.
Members took to the streets shouting slogans like "You say cut back? We say fight back!"
Research Hospital and Menorah Medical Center workers rally for good jobs and quality care
Service, maintenance, and technical employees at the Research Hospital and Menorah Medical Center campuses rallied with community allies on October 19th to stand up for quality care and quality jobs in the Kansas City area. (more…)
Governor signs bill to bring quality care, quality jobs to Roseland community
On Friday, August 5, 2011, Governor Pat Quinn arrived at Roseland Community Hospital in Chicago’s far south side, to sign House Bill 1888 into law, establishing the Roseland Community Medical District. The creation of a medical district creates opportunities to expand and improve healthcare facilities in the community.
“We’ve needed something like this to happen for a long time,” says Nicole Creamer, an SEIU member who works at Roseland Community Hospital. “The Roseland Medical District will bring hospital services and good healthcare jobs to an area that desperately needs both.”
Sponsors of the original legislation, Representative Robert Rita and Senator Emil Jones III, and other elected officials also attended this historical event, establishing the second medical district in the city of Chicago, and the fourth in Illinois.
Victory at Loretto Hospital: new contract improves wages and patient care
On Wednesday, July 6, SEIU members at Loretto Hospital approved their new contract by a vote of 54-6. This overwhelming show of support was due to strong victories for both workers and patients after 6 months of bargaining. (more…)
A victory for good jobs in Chicago at Northwestern Memorial Hospital
After months of negotiations, an overwhelming majority of Northwestern Memorial Hospital members have voted to ratify their new contract that holds hospital management accountable to protect good jobs and quality patient care.
“It was a long, hard fight from day one, but Northwestern is a nonprofit—we knew we had to hold them accountable to give back good jobs for the city in exchange for the tax breaks they receive,” said food service worker and bargaining committee member Shain Khan. “Our main goal was winning job security for our members, and we stuck together and fought for it until we got it,” he said.
Loretto workers rally for quality care, quality jobs
Patient care and support workers joined community members this week to call on Loretto Hospital management to make quality care a priority by investing in quality jobs.
Dozens gathered Tuesday outside the hospital to rally and pass out fliers.
“We care about our patients, but when we’re short-staffed, we can’t provide the care that our patients deserve. And when we’re barely paid enough to support our families, we lose a lot of qualified staff,” said phlebotomist Kim Common. “Loretto needs to do better for patients and for the Austin community.” (more…)