Dear Employees,
Every day we provide our patients high-quality, compassionate care. Each of us can think of people who touched our hearts and moments when we proudly watched our patients leave the hospital, well on the road to recovery. We have something special here, and it’s well worth cherishing and protecting.
Huge state budget cuts scheduled for later this year threaten our good work and much of what we have strived to achieve. These cuts would take critical funding from our facility. They would harm patients, employees, and our ability to provide healthcare to those who need it most. We could see major cutbacks or layoffs, and many people who are about to get coverage under the Affordable Care Act will not be able to get the care they’re counting on.
You may have noticed that this is an unusual letter. It is signed by us: your hospital CEO, medical director and a leader of the union, SEIU-UHW(If applicable for this facility). That’s because we are all equally concerned about the cuts, and equally determined to take action to stop them.
We have teamed up through our membership in the California Hospital Association and are reaching out to you, because on June 4 thousands of hospital employees, hospital administrators, physicians, dentists, insurers, first-responders, elected leaders and others are travelingto Sacramento from all over the state. We will call on state legislators and the Governor to restore $1 billion in funding for quality healthcare that was cut from the Medi-Cal budget.
It will be the largest healthcare gathering ever at the state Capitol. It will send a powerful message that we expect our elected leaders to stand up for quality care in California, and we would like YOU to be part of it.
Our hospital will work with local organizers to send a bus of administrators, doctors and employees to Sacramento, and we are hoping you will participate in this historic event. If you are interested, please visit sign up directly through one of the SEIU-UHW staff members (if applicable for this facility). If you are scheduled to work June 4 but want to join in, we can try to adjust your schedule so you can attend. Your official request for time off should be submitted to your unit manager. Employees will not be paid for the day to attend (although people may opt to use vacation or other personal time).
This is a rare opportunity for all of us to join together in a cause we truly believe in, and we hope you will consider signing on to protect the quality healthcare we all value delivering to our communities.
Sincerely,
XXXXXXXXXX, Hospital President/CEO
XXXXXXXXX, Medical Director
XXXXXXXX, SEIU-UHW (if applicable for this facility)