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"We wanted a union for better pay and benefits -- just like other workersinside Kaiser. But instead we've got Inter-Con violating our civil rights. Wego to work every day to protect these patients and employees, but we have noprotections ourselves," said Warren Chauvin, Fremont.
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Momentum from the first strike has built as Inter-Con continues to breakthe law and violate workers' civil rights. The strike could cover more than240 workers. Officers will also hold solidarity activities at Kaiser inColorado, DC, Ohio and Virginia during the California strike.
Inter-Con officers work for poverty wages, many making as little as$9/hour while at Kaiser. Many Inter-Con officers cannot afford the familyhealthcare coverage and do not have paid sick days. By comparison, facilityjanitors have free family healthcare, make a minimum of $11.50/hour and accruepaid sick leave.
"Without paid sick days, many of us are forced to work while we're sick.If I were to have to miss even one week I would be in danger of losing myapartment," said Dale Brown, Sacramento. "Plus I'm a single mother, and theinsurance plan is too expensive for me to enroll my two kids."
Since November 2005, 1,500 Inter-Con security officers at Kaiser inCalifornia have been working to improve security and working conditions byforming a union with SEIU. They are the only workers at Kaiser who do not havea union, fair pay, free family healthcare, paid sick leave and more.
Inter-Con also still owes security officers $4 million in recovered wagesfor requiring employees to work off the clock. The money was part of asettlement issued in Sept. 2007 for a class-action lawsuit against Inter-Con.
For more information: www.StandforSecurity.org
SOURCE SEIU
