Summer weather is not the only thing heating up in Palo Alto. Healthcare workers at Stanford Hospital recently met to discuss management's most recent substandard offer of a 1% per-year wage increase. The workers at Stanford and sister facility Lucille Packard Children's Hospital are relaunching efforts to bargain a contract after working without one for 8 months.
"Members at Stanford always give 100% - which has helped Stanford Hospital build a reputation for providing the highest quality of care," said Lourdes Arafiles, Unit Secretary at LPCH. "One percent does not reflect the valuable contribution to patient care that we make to help Stanford Hospital thrive."
SEIU-UHW Trustee Dave Regan traveled to a site near the lush hospital campus to speak with members and discuss ways to help them mobilize co-workers. He encouraged members to sign the unity petition that is currently circulating the hospital. Bargaining Team members meet each week to continue contract discussions.
Despite the current economy, Stanford Hospital is currently planning a $3 billion hospital expansion.
Stanford can afford to do better and should. Patients deserve and expect it.