ORANGE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Two hundred and twenty healthcare workers seeking to improve staffing and patient care at IHHI Chapman Medical Center in Orange, California officially formed their union with Service Employees International Union, United Healthcare Workers – West (SEIU-UHW) on November 30, 2011.
“I joined SEIU-UHW because I believe in having the security of a union contract,” said Czreenah Apostol, a licensed vocational nurse at Chapman. “I also believe that it will help us provide quality care for our patients.”
By forming a union, Chapman workers became the third group of health caregivers working in the Integrated Healthcare Holdings, Inc. (IHHI) hospital chain to join SEIU-UHW. IHHI operates four facilities in Orange County: Chapman Medical Center, Western Medical Center Santa Ana, Western Medical Center Anaheim and Coastal Communities Hospital in Santa Ana.
Workers at Coastal Communities Hospital and Western Medical Anaheim are already members of SEIU-UHW. Those facilities combined have 605 SEIU-UHW members.
In the coming weeks, Chapman Medical Center employees will prepare to join other SEIU-UHW members at IHHI Coastal and Anaheim in negotiations for a new contract.
Workers across these facilities are united to improve healthcare and healthcare jobs in Orange County. Top priorities include improvements to patient care, staffing, scheduling practices and job security.
SEIU-United Healthcare Workers West (SEIU-UHW) is the largest hospital and healthcare union in the western United States with more than 150,000 members. We unite every type of healthcare worker with a mission to achieve high-quality healthcare for all. SEIU-UHW is part of the 2.1 million-member Service Employees International Union (SEIU), the nation’s fastest-growing union. Learn more at www.seiu-uhw.org.
CONTACT:
For SEIU-United Healthcare Workers West
Roshin Mathew, 213-309-0314
Elizabeth Brennan, 213-999-2164
KEYWORDS: United States North America California
INDUSTRY KEYWORDS: Health Hospitals Professional Services Human Resources
MEDIA: