Last week’s strike is still sending shockwaves throughout Riverside County – from the community itself to the corridors of County management!
Instead of Riverside County doing the right thing and returning to the bargaining table—their Managers have resorted to continue on the low road that they have been on for the last year!
Just hours after employees returned to their jobs with union-supplied pepper spray in hand, management at the Riverside University Health System (RUHS) Medical Center threatened them with “possible imprisonment for up to one year”! How much lower can the County go?
This latest attempt at intimidation is in direct contradiction to a Board of Supervisors decree from Feb. 7, 2017 authorizing the use of pepper spray – which they made in response to task force recommendations prepared after the San Bernardino shooting on Dec. 2, 2015. We will never forget that the San Bernardino tragedy left 14 people dead and 22 injured – nor will we forget that ten of the fatalities and 14 of the injured were fellow SEIU Local 721 members.
Protecting you is our number one priority, and we will not back down now when it comes to worker safety!
Riverside County management may claim they have “effective security measures in place” but when our fellow member was attacked on the job – getting bitten by a patient while he bashed her head into the ground – it was her fellow co-worker who came to her rescue. The so-called “Code Green” organization-wide alert system that RUHS Medical Center management loves to brag about failed her miserably!
Our union believes what Riverside County is doing is WRONG and despicable – so do not be afraid! Our attorneys and our 95,000+ strong members are ready to back you no matter what tricks the County tries to pull. They’ve shown time and time again they’re willing to break labor law after law to silence frontline workers.
Last week’s strike was a legally protected action, if there is anything that makes you feel otherwise, contact us so we can immediately address it contact your WSO immediately or call Member Connection at (213) 721-4YOU. We’ve got your back!