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Spotlight NewsletterMay 04, 2012 |
Volume 1., Issue 229
Beverly Nurses Win Historic First Contract
More than 14 months after they voted to join United Nurses Associations of California/Union of Health Care Professionals (UNAC/UHCP), registered nurses at Beverly Hospital ratified their first union contract this week, winning protections for patient safety after a year of difficult bargaining and illegal conduct by the hospital management.
In March of this year, the National Labor Relations Board announced it would prosecute the employer for engaging in bad faith bargaining. The hospital also came under investigation by Cal-OSHA, following reports of a malfunctioning Code Blue system in Intensive Care, broken electrical outlets, and mold and water damage in ICU, Telemetry and Maternal/Child units.
“We never gave up on protecting our patients and community,” said Susan Justin, RN. “Now we have a contract that guarantees Beverly nurses a strong voice in patient care and improving our hospital.”
Learn more.
Thursday: March for Justice for Janitors in Sacramento
Despite the fact that their colleagues in Orange County, LA and the Bay Area have already succeeded in securing fair contracts, the hard-working janitors in Sacramento are still fighting for justice as their employers continue to push for cuts to healthcare and wages, a heavier workload and fewer hours.
Show your support for the Sacramento janitors by joining them for a march on Thursday beginning at 11am at 621 Capitol Mall in Sacramento.
For more information, email lino.pedres@seiu-usww.org.
Sign the Petition: End the Corruption and Cover-Up at Walmart
In light of recent reports that Walmart bribed public officials in Mexico and then tried to cover it up, Walmart employee Venanzi Luna has started a petition calling on to Walmart executives to resign. In just a few days, the petition has already garnered more than 8,000 signatures.
According to Luna’s petition, “I’m worried because while I am working hard, now I’m hearing that they’re risking our company by lying and cheating. For years my coworkers and I have been saying that this company has lost its way. I didn’t realize it had gotten this bad! It is time for things to change. Walmart needs to take responsibility for its actions and change its leadership.”
Learn more and sign the petition.
Help “Stamp Out Hunger” With the Letter Carriers Union
Every spring, the National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) sponsors its annual “Stamp Out Hunger” food drive – the nation’s largest one-day drive to collect food for the needy. Last year, the letter carriers collected more than 70 million pounds of food, and they hope to collect even more this year.
The 20th annual “Stamp Out Hunger” food drive will take place next Saturday, May 12th. Participating in the food drive is quick and easy. Simply leave a bag of non-perishable items next to your mailbox, and your letter carrier will pick it up and deliver it to a food bank or shelter in your community.
Learn more.
This Week on “Labor’s Edge”
AFL-CIO’s Mike Hall announced that Gov. Brown signed a law to protect Project Labor Agreements.
In honor of May Day, we outlined why the labor movement is more about the future than the past.
Jennifer Angarita of the AFL-CIO shared news that the Graton Day Labor Center has affiliated with the North Bay Labor Council.
Stacey Hendler Ross reported on the latest advancements in the campaign to raise the minimum wage in San Jose.
Jamie Way from the Making Change at Walmart campaign shared the petition urging Walmart execs to step down in light of the bribery scandal.
Santos Castaneda of Warehouse Workers United chronicled his fight for justice, from the Walmart warehouse in Chino to the Capitol building in Sacramento.
Jennifer Badgley of IBEW 569 detailed how San Diego electrical workers are giving back by providing service for those who’ve served.
Caroline O’Connor shared highlights from the “Workers Aren’t Garbage” May Day action at American Reclamation in LA.