Today at 2:15: Officials to Hold Press Conference re: Stanford Hospital Not Bargaining

SEIU Local 715



Media Advisory



For Immediate Release Contact Person

John
Vellardita, Chief Spokesperson, SEIU 715


831.578.1455



Elected Officials Will Hold Press Conference on December 1st in front of
Stanford Hospital Showing Opposition to Stanford Hospital's Refusal to
Return to Bargaining Table



Strike Looms As Hospital Refuses to Return to the Negotiation Table



VISUALS: Large SEIU Purple Bus

Stanford, CA Last week, Stanford Hospital workers overwhelmingly voted
to reject Stanford Hospital's best and final offer. They voted to
authorize a strike against the hospital. Since the strike vote, workers
have offered to return to the bargaining table with Stanford Hospital on
December 2 and December 3. Stanford Hospital has refused to meet.
Subsequently, SEIU Local 715 has filed an unlawful labor practice charge
against Stanford Hospital.

Elected officials will hold a press conference on December 1st at the
entrance of Stanford Hospital to show their opposition to Stanford
Hospital's refusal to return to the bargaining table. After the press
conference, the elected officials will tour the hospital and speak with
hospital workers. The elected officials later will join a delegation to
Stanford Hospital CEO Martha Marsh.

Elected officials will include:

* Sally Lieber, State Assemblymember

* Johan Klehs, State Assemblymember

* Mike Nevin, State Senate candidate

* Pete McHugh, Santa Clara County Supervisor

* Laura Macias, Mountain View City Councilmember

* Jim Hartnett, Redwood City Councilmember

* Fred Fowler, Sunnyvale City Councilmember

* John Howe, Sunnyvale City Councilmember



Phaedra Ellis-Lamkins, the Executive Officer of the 110,000 member of
the South Bay Labor Council shall preside over the press conference.

"Stanford Hospital needs to understand that the current labor crisis not
only involves workers, but it also involves the community. Stanford
should listen to our elected officials and take action that will ensure
that workers are treated with dignity and respect. It should return to
the bargaining table," said Kristy Sermersheim, Executive Secretary for
28,000 member SEIU Local 715.

The contract extension for 1,300 Stanford Hospital workers expired on
Saturday November 13th. Since then over 1300 workers have been working
without a contract. Over 300 of the workers are nursing assistants.
Other represented workers include operating room assistants, anesthesia
techs, food service workers, housekeepers, lab assistants, and others.

Stanford's best and final offer fell far short of addressing the
following issues:

Industry Standard Wages: Stanford Hospital pays its workers in some
cases 20% below the market rate while its CEO Martha Marsh's
compensation is $1 million per year. In the past three years, Stanford
has reduced the number of jobs by 19%. During the same time Stanford's
profits have increased 1000%. Stanford and Lucile Packard Hospitals made
over $140 million in profits last year. Stanford has proposed adjusting
wages by only 4%.

Full Healthcare Coverage for Workers' Families: Stanford Hospital's
mission is to provide healthcare. Yet Stanford firmly believes that
employees should pay for their families to be provided health care.
Stanford Hospital's position is not in alignment with other major area
hospitals which pay for full health insurance for family members.

Job Security: Stanford's expansion and transfer plans put at risk the
secure employment of workers. Stanford Hospital has plans to open a
facility in Redwood City with over 670 jobs and that decision and other
plans impact the future employment of SEIU members. Stanford refuses to
bargain over this issue. Under the current contract, representation is
limited to Stanford Hospital's current facilities.

Event Announcement

What: Elected Officials Will Hold Press Conference on December 1st in
front of Stanford Hospital Showing United Support for Stanford Hospital
Workers' Vote to Authorize a Strike

When: Thursday December 1, 2005 2:15 pm

Where: Stanford Hospital Entrance

300 Pasteur Drive

Stanford, CA