Johns Hopkins Caregivers Hold Prayer Vigil, Call for Fair Pay

(Metropolitan Washington Council, AFL-CIO)More than a hundred 1199SEIU members from Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore came out on February 11 to sing, pray and call for justice at the hospital. Caregivers are in contract negotiations with the healthcare behemoth that reported nearly $180 million of income and $2.6 billion in assets in 2010. “We’ve poured our hearts and souls into this place, and they’re offering us a half a percent” said Thurman Bell, an 1199 bargaining committee member who works in Central Sterile. “We can’t live like that.” In addition to just half- a-percent annual wage increases for five years, Hopkins’ management has put on the table significant healthcare take-backs that would cost the average worker $1,800 more a year. Workers are calling for a better deal, particularly in light of the lavish pay Hopkins has awarded its top executives. – report adapted from 1199SEIU's report; photo courtesy 1199SEIU