1199C Hospital Workers Union Fighting for Patient Care, Benefits As Over 50 Contracts Set to Expire

    PHILADELPHIA, May 12 /PRNewswire/ -- Henry Nicholas, President of the
 National Union of Hospital and Health Care Employees, AFSCME, AFL-CIO, and its
 local affiliate District 1199C, said today that his Union is fighting for
 quality care for the patients in health care facilities where 1199 members
 work and for health benefits for the workers who care for those patients.  The
 two issues go hand in hand, Nicholas said.
     More than 50 contracts between District 1199C and area health care
 institutions will expire on June 30, 2005, and the Union's fight for both
 patient care and benefits is central to contract talks.  Among the expiring
 contracts are those with Tenet Health System/Hahnemann University Hospital and
 Thomas Jefferson University Hospital.
     Nicholas announced several events scheduled to take place in advance of
 the contract expirations:
     On June 1, informational literature will be handed out at all health care
 institutions where 1199 members work, including those where contracts do not
 expire on June 30.
     On June 6 at 3:00 p.m., Union members will demonstrate at Hahnemann and
 Jefferson Hospitals, St. Joseph's Hospital and Girard Medical Center, Inglis
 House and the Golden Slipper Uptown Home.
     Later on June 6, at 5:30 p.m., a rally will be held for Union members at
 the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia.  A strike authorization
 vote will be taken to authorize the Union to strike those institutions where
 contract settlements cannot be reached by the June 30 expiration date.
 
 

SOURCE  District 1199C