FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
July 5, 2024

Media Contact:
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EL CENTRO, Calif. – Healthcare workers and allies from SEIU-United Healthcare Workers West (SEIU-UHW), a union of more than 100,000 healthcare workers across California, will gather at Innercare El Centro to protest unfair labor practices on July 8. Standing in solidarity with clinic workers who are being silenced and intimidated in their ongoing union election, union healthcare workers will demand that Innercare allows a fair and intimidation-free process.

This action is in response to concerns about working conditions, wages, and the overall environment within Innercare facilities, including the treatment of those in support of a union. Workers are scheduled to hold their union election on July 11 and have faced anti-union activities and retaliation, including forced anti-union meetings with management, searches of personal belongings, aggressive and intimidating behavior, and the hiring of union busters. The recent termination of over half a dozen caregivers has only added fuel to the fire, prompting SEIU-UHW to take a stand against these unjust actions by Innercare management. The demonstration is part of a broader effort to advocate for better patient care, higher labor standards, and fair treatment of employees within Innercare.

“We have been retaliated against for being outspoken and supporting unionization,” said Alejandro Ascolani, a former Bookkeeper at Innercare El Centro who was fired in retaliation for union activity. “Innercare needs to respect our decision and stop punishing workers for refusing to side with them in their anti-worker union busting efforts. All we want is to have a collective voice to improve our working conditions and provide the best care possible to our patients.”

Innercare workers, many of whom serve rural areas and low-income patients, are frustrated with the disconnect between their needs and the actions of Innercare executives, who workers feel do not reflect the community they serve. These wealthy executives are seen as exploiting both workers and vulnerable patients for financial gain. Many of these workers are so underpaid that they cannot afford to live in the U.S. and have no choice but to live in Mexico and cross the border every day to the U.S. to provide care for their patients.

About 500 Innercare employees are in the middle of a union election to become members of SEIU-UHW. They work in various jobs, including medical assistants, licensed vocational nurses, patient representatives, registered dental assistants, phlebotomists, housekeepers, and many other frontline staff.

WHAT:         Frontline healthcare workers and allies will hold signs to show solidarity with clinic workers at Innercare.

WHEN:        Monday, July 8, 2024, at Innercare El Centro from noon – 2 p.m. 

WHERE:      Innercare – El Centro
                         852 E. Danenberg Drive
El Centro, CA 92243

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SEIU-United Healthcare Workers West (SEIU-UHW) is a healthcare justice union of more than 100,000 healthcare workers, patients, and healthcare activists united to ensure affordable, accessible, high-quality care for all Californians, provided by valued and respected healthcare workers.