Paramilitary security personnel at California Pacific Medical Center physically assault caregivers at morning rally
Woman hospitalized after kicked to the ground by military trained CPMC security guard
San Francisco – Several caregivers were
physically assaulted by CPMC security personnel after a
candlelight vigil at the hospital this morning. Striking
dietary aide, Lorenna Hernandez, was hospitalized with
abdominal injuries after being kicked to the ground by military
trained security at CPMC (police report # 051155135). Several
other caregivers filed police reports after being kicked and
punched by security guards (police report #051155107).
“The security guards were out of control. I was on the
picket line, and security starting shoving us off the
sidewalk,” said Hernandez. “I fell to the ground and one of the
guards kept kicking me in the stomach. Everyone was yelling at
him to stop and trying to get him off me.”
CPMC hired the temporary security personnel from Steele
Foundation, an expensive international security firm that sends
private armed guards to volatile areas around the world. In
2001, Steel Foundation guards were engaged in fighting a
paramilitary coup attempt that resulted in the death of four
people at Haiti’s National Palace. California Pacific Medical
Center hired the Steele Foundation guards in an effort to
intimidate the caregivers forced to strike for better patient
care at CPMC.
Since the strike began 31 days ago, Steele Foundation guards
have shoved, spit on, sexually harassed, and threatened Nursing
Assistants, Licensed Vocational Nurses and other hospital
caregivers. Yesterday morning over 70 Steele personnel attacked
a largely female group of caregivers protesting peacefully at
the hospital’s Pacific campus.
“We were just walking on the picket line and security
started running toward us. They told us we needed to get off
the sidewalk, but it is our legal right. Besides there was fast
traffic on the street,” said Maria Salina, a central
distribution aide at CPMC. “They started pushing us, shoving me
hard in my shoulder and neck.” (Continued)
Nearly 800 caregivers were forced to strike on September 13
after pursuing every possible measure to avoid the walkout,
including accepting a Federal Mediator’s compromise proposal
for settlement. Sutter/CPMC initially accepted, then reneged on
a Mediator’s proposal, which featured safe staffing guidelines
and a training fund. Every other hospital in Northern
California, including Kaiser, Catholic Healthcare West, and
Daughters of Charity, have accepted the industry standards
included in the Mediator’s recommendation.
