For immediate release
February 18, 2016

Bethany Khan

(702) 387-7088

[email protected]

Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders Join UNITE HERE’s Culinary Union in Protest at Sunrise Hospital in Las Vegas

Hundreds of Union Members Picket at Sunrise Hospital to Protest HCA’s Stalled Negotiations Involving Affordable Patient Care

(Video below)
LAS VEGAS -Both Democratic presidential candidates joined UNITE HERE’s Culinary Union and Bartenders Union, along with several other Las Vegas-area unions, in a demonstration in front of Sunrise Hospital to protest Hospital Corporation of America’s (HCA) negotiation stall tactics.

Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders walked a picket line with hundreds of union workers to highlight the need for reasonable rates that would maintain affordable patient care for members and their families at a sustainable cost. The unions have no intention to cause a work stoppage and do not expect this to occur.  The demonstration will have no effect on patient care.

Culinary Union and Bartender Union members receive their health insurance through Culinary Health Fund, which is in a coalition with 13 other Trust Funds that combined provide health insurance for 275,000 members, including firefighters, police, construction workers, and hotel workers.

HCA, the largest for-profit hospital operator in America, owns Sunrise Hospital, Southern Hills Hospital, MountainView Hospital, and four surgery centers in the valley.

During Feb. 10 negotiations, the Coalition attempted to reach an agreement with HCA on a three-year or four-year contract but HCA refused to extend the negotiations deadline, which is set to expire Feb. 29 at midnight.  If an agreement is not reached by then, come March 1, HCA hospitals and facilities will be out of network for patients and their families. The next scheduled negotiating session between HSC and HCA is on Feb. 22.

Union workers receiving health insurance from the following Trust Funds are affected in these negotiations: Cement Masons and Plasterers Health and Welfare Trust; Clark County Firefighters; Clark County Self-Funded; Construction Industry and Laborer Health and Welfare Trust Fund; Culinary Health Fund; IBEW 357 Electricians; Las Vegas Firefighters; Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Employees Health and Welfare Trust; Operating Engineers Local 501, Plumbers and Pipefitters Health and Welfare Fund; Teamsters Local 14-Security Fund for Southern Nevada; Teamsters Local 631- Security Fund for Southern Nevada; Teamsters Local 995- Security Fund for Southern Nevada; UFCW Local 771 and Retail Food Employers Benefit Fund and United Food and Commercial Workers-Local 711 (Rite Aid Employees); and United Food and Commercial Workers-Local 711.

Video of Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders on Picket Line

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Culinary Workers Local 226 and Bartenders Local 165, Nevada affiliates of UNITE HERE, represent over 57,000 workers in Las Vegas and Reno, including at most of casino resorts on the Las Vegas Strip. UNITE HERE represents 270,000 workers in gaming, hotel, and food service industries in North America.

www.CulinaryUnion226.org / @Culinary226