Caregivers Sue Sutter/CPMC for Illegally Hiring Professional Strikebreakers

At a rally today, members of
SEIU-United Healthcare Workers West announced a lawsuit filed against
California Pacific Medical Center, its corporate parent, Sutter Health, and
SCAB companies, Modern Industrial Services (MIS) and Healthcare Consulting &
Staff Services (HCSS), for violation of the California Labor Code and San
Francisco Police Ordinances that outlaw the use of professional strike
breakers. San Francisco Treasurer Jose Cisneros, also announced an
investigation into a company doing business with Sutter Health for failure to
pay taxes and register for a business license. Sutter/CPMC contracted with MIS
and HCSS to replace 800 SEIU-UHW caregivers forced to strike 22 days ago for
an industry standard contract.
"During a time when Sutter/CPMC should be doing everything in its power to
stabilize the quality of health care on their hospital floors, CPMC has
illegally placed professional strike breakers at the bedside. This violates
California Labor Codes and San Francisco Police Ordinances that were enacted
to protect consumers -- in this case hospital patients -- from being served by
underskilled, cheap temporary labor," said SEIU-UHW President Sal Rosselli.
"CPMC has again put their patients at risk by hiring illegal strike breakers
from a company whose owner has a long track record of tax evasion and other
unlawful activity. CPMC could end this all by just saying yes to the federal
mediator's proposal."
According to the complaint (Case No. CGC-05-445-400), "Sutter/CPMC
willingly and knowingly utilized professional strikebreakers to replace an
employee or employees involved in a strike at a place of business located
within this state and/or within the City and County of San Francisco."
San Francisco Treasurer Jose Cisneros's investigation was announced after
a tip was received from a member of the public. Public records indicated that
Fanger has failed to pay nearly a quarter million dollars in taxes to the
state. HCSS and its owner have a long track record of legal violations.
"The Treasurer's Office has received a tip from a member of the public
alleging nonregistration and nonpayment of taxes by a business working with
Sutter Health. We are investigating the tip and, if necessary, we will
collect all moneys owed to the City. I look forward to having a quick
turnaround on this," said San Francisco Treasurer, Jose Cisneros.
The San Francisco Office of the Treasurer investigation and SEIU-UHW
lawsuit arrive after numerous reports have surfaced of illegal and unethical
behavior by temporary workers hired by CPMC to replace striking caregivers. On
September 24, San Francisco police reported that three temporary workers were
caught stealing drugs from a pharmaceutical cabinet. Not long before, CPMC
revealed that it had hired Hurricane Katrina victims as replacement workers
and paid them five to six dollars an hour less than those on strike.
Federal, state, and local government agencies have also filed a string of
investigations against Sutter corporation. Most recently the U.S. Department
of Justice announced an investigation into Sutter Health for possible
violation of anti-trust laws. Sutter Health is also being looked into by the
U.S. Senate Finance Committee, the U.S. House Ways and Means Committee, the
U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee, the National Labor Relations Board,
the California Attorney General, the California Assembly Committee on Taxation
and Revenue, the Federal Trade Commission and the San Francisco Tax Assessor.

Contact:
Thea Lavin
c.510-520-7732
Bill Sokol
c.510-715-4312

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