More Updates Coming Soon!
Strike Update – Friday, May 13
On Friday, May 13, we closed out our last strike day with inspiring and heartfelt words from a number of religious and elected leaders. We are still in awe of all the solidarity and energy shown by everyone who was on the strike lines this week. From all the press coverage, support from elected officials, and union solidarity, we truly felt the meaning of strength in numbers.
Most importantly, we are proud of all of our Cedars-Sinai caregivers who made the sacrifice to fight for better patient care, working conditions, and a living wage that truly reflects our contributions.
There is no doubt we made plenty of noise and Cedars definitely is hearing us!
They know how important worker and patient safety is to us. They know we are not just fighting for a living wage, we want to make sure our patients can get the care they need and deserve here at Cedars-Sinai.
Our strike will officially end today at 7 p.m. but our bargaining team will continue negotiations again on Monday in the hopes we can reach a fair agreement.
Check out all the action from today on our social media.
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Strike Update – Thursday, May 12
Today members from AFSCME 3299, LA Labor Federation, SEIU 121, SEIU 2015, SEIU 721, SEIU 99, Teamsters 986, DGA, and more unions from the entertainment industry brought some energy and solidarity to our strike line! As essential workers we’ve all had to fight for respect, adequate staffing, and living wages in our industries.
We also got a visit from Dr. Daniel Lee, mayor of Culver City, Ron Herrera, President of LA Labor Fed, and Mark Gonzalez, Los Angeles County Democratic Chair who gave us some encouragement as he stood with us, calling on Cedars to “Invest In Your Workers!”
Maybe Cedars-Sinai management will listen to the growing list of elected officials urging them to rethink their priorities at the bargaining table.
After our bargaining team stayed up last night and went back into negotiations today, Cedars started to engage on some of the issues we have been raising, but we still have a long way to go to have an agreement that respects our contributions.
Until we get an agreement that reflects our hard work, we’ll be out on the strike line tomorrow with a number of religious leaders speaking out in support. Don’t miss out! Our Strike ends tomorrow at 7 p.m.
Check out our social media!
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Strike Update – Wednesday, May 11
After Cedars-Sinai management got word that a group of Kaiser and Dignity SEIU-UHW members were making their way to the lavish Cedars Women’s Guild Spring Luncheon at a Beverly Hills Hotel, Cedars decided to pull the plug on the event altogether!
But that didn’t stop us from making our voices heard! Our UHW member supporters brought lots of energy to the strike line while our bargaining team met with Cedars-Sinai management for a second full day of bargaining to go over our proposal.
We didn’t come out with a deal today, but one thing is clear — Cedars is taking notice of all the press coverage, laser shows, mobile ads, social media posts, even what we’re putting out in the sky! That’s right, we flew a plane to make sure our message got across – LOW WAGES ARE NOT IN FASHION!
Tomorrow we will be joined by more union member supporters as we go into day 4 of our week-long strike. We must keep this momentum going to show Cedars-Sinai we won’t stop our fight for living wages, quality patient care, and worker safety!
Day 3 was full of action! You can relive it all through our social media.
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@seiu_uhw
Strike Update – Tuesday, May 10
We started our second day celebrating all the hard working Mamas fighting for a better life for their families. Of course no celebration is complete without some Mariachis leading the strike line.
Did you see us in the LA Times? Our fight to expose the #TheRealCedarsSinai is getting serious attention from the press, we even made it on Good Morning America!
Check out the full article featuring our very own Yudis Cruz.
While we were making headlines on the strike line our SEIU-UHW President Dave Regan joined the bargaining team for a day-long bargaining session where we presented Cedars-Sinai management with a comprehensive proposal on all issues. We didn’t come out with a deal but we will be back at the bargaining table tomorrow. Now more than ever we need to show our strength on the strike line!
Hot off the press!
Morning Brief: Strike At Cedars, Augmented Reality, And Josh Johnson – LAist
It’s Day 2 of strike by service workers at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center – Spectrum News Los Angeles
(Video) Healthcare Workers on Strike – ABC 7 – 5AM News
Tomorrow while we hold down the strike line, a group of Kaiser and Dignity SEIU-UHW members will be making their way to the big event at the Women’s Guild Spring Luncheon where Cedar’s is throwing a lavish Fashion event at a swanky Beverly Hills Hotel. We’re going to remind them who the real heroes of the pandemic are!
Check out photos and videos on social
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In light of healthcare workers who are striking to stop unfair labor practices, and trying to raise families while earning $17/hour @CedarsSinai, we urge #womensguildcs to cancel their event. #TheRealCedarsSinai pic.twitter.com/zhMtRwjgaG
— SEIU-UHW #HealthcareJustice (@seiu_uhw) May 11, 2022
Strike Update – Monday, May 9
Until the very last moment in bargaining, management at Cedars-Sinai has refused to bargain in good faith and continues to commit unfair labor practices. So we kicked off our first day of our ULP strike at the crack of dawn ready to share our stories with almost every single TV station, radio station, and newspaper in LA turning out to talk to our coworkers and hear about #TheRealCedarsSinai.
The picket line was on FIRE 🔥🔥🔥 from the start with chants of “Cedars Cedars you’re not broke. Understaffing is no joke!”
“Cedars has reaped the benefits during this pandemic, profiting over $1 billion in 2021. Instead of investing some of the profits to keep their workforce by offering a hazard bonus, Cedars proposed a rollover of the current contract, with raises far below inflation – essentially offering a pay cut to those they called ‘healthcare heroes’ just months ago. It was insulting and heartbreaking to the exhausted, burnt out caregivers who keep this hospital running.”
Jose Sanchez, Lead Transporter
“We are sick and tired of leading a stressed out life for an employer that doesn’t want to treat us right. We don’t want to be out here on strike. We want to be in there with our patients. But our patients are going to keep suffering if something doesn’t change. And that change starts with us!”
Willie Gladney, EVS
Have you seen the news? Check out some of the press coverage we’ve had in the past couple of days. 👀 You know Cedars is definitely watching.
Cedars-Sinai workers strike for the first time in decades, negotiate for higher wages – Los Angeles Times
Health Care Workers At Cedars-Sinai Are On Strike – LAist
Hundreds of health care workers at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center begin 5-day strike – ABC 7 News
Hundreds of Cedars-Sinai Workers Walk Out for 5-Day Strike – NBC 4 News
Hundreds of Cedars-Sinai workers go on strike – KTLA 5
Cedars-Sinai workers launch 5-day strike, alleging unfair labor practices – L.A. Daily News
Miles de empleados del Hospital Cedars-Sinai entran en huelga para reclamar mejores condiciones laborales – Univision L.A.
Empleados del hospital Cedars-Sinai inician una huelga laboral: exigen mejoras en el contrato colectivo – Univision L.A.
Cientos de trabajadores de servicios de Cedars-Sinai planean huelga el lunes – Telemundo 52
Trabajadores de Cedars-Sinai saldrán a huelga (Cedars workers to go on strike) – Telemundo 52
Strike set to begin at Cedars-Sinai – Becker’s Hospital Review
Workers at Cedars-Sinai in Los Angeles begin 5-day strike – Healthcare Dive
2,000 Cedars-Sinai workers plan weeklong strike starting Monday morning – CBS News L.A.
2,000 Cedars-Sinai service workers plan to strike Monday – Fox 11 News
(Video) 2,000 Cedars Workers Walking off the Job – KTLA 5 Morning News at 9
(Video) Cedars-Sinai Workers to Walk Out Monday – ABC 7 Eyewitness News 9AM
(Audio) Cedars-Sinai Workers to Walk off the Job Monday Morning – KNX Radio
(Audio) SEIU-UHW Members to Stage Week-Long Strike – KABC Radio
2,000 Cedars-Sinai Service Workers Planning to Strike Monday Morning – MyNewsLA.com
Have you seen our social media?
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Tomorrow you won’t want to miss out! We will be celebrating all the hard-working moms who keep our hospital running and do everything they can to be there for their families.
Strike Update – Saturday, May 7
We had one last unproductive bargaining session this morning, in which Cedars offered us a proposal that
- Has starting wages less than Target or Verizon
- Would let them change our health benefits and raise premiums whenever they wanted
- Includes no pandemic bonus or safety protections
So the strike is on! Here’s what you need to know before you go.
- What: The SEIU-UHW Cedars Sinai Bargaining Team has called for an Unfair Labor Practice Strike. This Strike is protected under the NLRB and workers cannot be punished or retaliated against for participating.
- When: Our strike begins 5am Monday May 9th until 6:59pm on Friday May 13th. Strike activities will continue each day until 7 pm.
- Where: The union is in compliance with permitting with LAPD and will be on San Vicente Blvd. in front of the Beverly Center.
- Parking: Cedars employees pay in advance for monthly parking and are encouraged to use their Cedars parking space. The Union has also obtained parking at the Beverly Center.
- Registration: Each day, when you arrive at your strike shift, you will need to register to your strike badge. Please bring your Cedars badge for employee verification. You will also need to check out each day at the end of your strike shift.
- What to wear: The Union recommends that members come to the strike in their Cedars uniform. We will also have union shirts on hand. Please wear comfortable shoes and feel free to wear protective sun gear.
- Food: Breakfast, lunch, dinner, coffee, water and snacks will be provided throughout the strike.
- Facilities: We will have portable restrooms and handwashing stations at the strike line which will be serviced nightly.
- Activities: We will be marching peacefully as in past informational pickets. We will also have an activities table for children and we will be expecting press, labor partners, community allies and elected officials to join us throughout the strike.
- Patient Safety: We will not be blocking any patient entrances and we will ensure that our strike is peaceful and safe. The union provided a 10-day notice to give Cedars management enough time to prepare for contingency plans for staffing and patient care.
- News and info: Check this page every day for news and updates. You can also check out our Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram pages to see what people are saying about our strike.
- Other Questions: Please check out our Frequently Asked Questions here and please make sure to reach out to your Strike Captain Union Leader for more information.
It’s time to stand up for ourselves and demand Cedars give us the respect we deserve. We’ll see you on the line bright and early 5am on Monday.
Strike Update – Thursday, May 5
It’s hard to believe, but at the bargaining table this week, Cedars presented a proposal EVEN WORSE than what they’d offered us before: Only 2.25% raises next year – not even close to the inflation rate – and a change to our medical plan that would allow them to cancel it any time they wanted.
And of course no safety improvements, no recognition for what we’ve been through, and starting wages less than Target and Verizon. We rejected their proposal immediately. Our strike is on. See you on the line.
Strike Update – Wednesday, May 4
Nothing to report yet out of bargaining today, but have you seen the job postings Cedars has put out for our jobs while we’re striking?
Cedars keeps telling us they can’t afford to invest in us and give us real raises that reflect what we’ve been through and the high cost of living in LA. But as you can see from the screenshots above from various hiring services, they’re happy to pay more – more than twice as much in some cases! – for the workers they’re shipping in to replace us. It’s insulting and disrespectful!
Strike Update – Tuesday, May 3
Tomorrow and Thursday are our last scheduled bargaining days before the strike. Will Cedars change their tune? We haven’t seen any sign they will so far, but the coming strike sure is making them nervous. If you haven’t already, make sure you’ve signed up for your strike shifts. When we’re all standing on the line together, Cedars will have to listen!
Strike Update – Monday, May 2
It’s a week until our strike! Just seven days for Cedars management to get their act together and offer us a fair contract that truly invests in the workers who have made this hospital so successful.
Many folks have been asking for a day-by-day breakdown of what the strike will look like. Here’s what we’ve got on the schedule:
Monday, May 9 – Walkout Day
Unless there is a last-minute compromise, we will be walking out of Cedars-Sinai at 5am. If you’re working at that time, come out and join us on the strike line. If you’re not, join us outside as early as 4am. This morning’s walkout will be our best opportunity to get the press to come out and hear why we are striking. We need to make this a real show of force! We’ll have a short program in the morning and will be on the picket line the rest of the day.
Tuesday, May 10 – Family Day
May 10 is Mother’s Day in Mexico, so let’s take the opportunity to celebrate all the working moms (and dads!) who keep Cedars running. Bring your kids! We will have mariachi music, and activities like sign making and children’s marches for the little ones.
Wednesday, May 11 – Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous
Can you believe that Cedars is hosting a fundraising luncheon on the 11th? They already made over a billion dollars in profit last year! They wouldn’t let us have a table at the lunch, so we’re just going to have to meet them outside at the Beverly Hills Maybourne Hotel (225 North Canon Drive). We’ll also be joined by our SEIU-UHW brothers and sisters from Kaiser, Dignity, and more who will join us to lend their support.
Thursday, May 12 – Labor Support Day
On Thursday, we’ll be joined by our union brothers and sisters from all over the LA area. We stand united!
Friday, May 13 – Religious Support Day
On our final day of the strike, we want to take the opportunity to reflect on the experience and what it means to stand up for what’s right. We’ll be joined by religious leaders from around the LA area who want to lend their support. Do you have a religious leader who would like to stand with us? Let us know!
Other questions about the strike? Check out our Frequently Asked Questions.
