SEIU United Healthcare Workers West's Campaign of False Claims and Attacks on Community-Based Health Care

For the past several years, leaders of SEIU United Healthcare Workers West, an Oakland-based labor union, have been working to try to convince employees at hospitals and physician care centers affiliated with Sutter Health to join its union.

Because efforts to enlist new members using traditional organizing methods have not been successful, SEIU United Healthcare Workers West is believed to have spent millions of dollars in member dues on negative publicity campaigns and deceptive distortions, all in an attempt to stop Sutter Health from replacing and improving hospitals and to discredit our not-for-profit network and those who serve our patients.

Following is the truth behind SEIU United Healthcare Workers West's false claims.

• Record Charity Care/Community Benefit
• A Fair Price
• Fair Bill Collection Practices
• A Healthy Pension
• A Voice in Staffing
• Accountability
• Training & Education Fund
• Real Retiree Health Insurance
• Reasonable Wage Increases

Record Charity Care/Community Benefit

SEIU United Healthcare Workers West says:
Sutter-affiliated organizations don't provide enough charity care.

The truth is:
In 2006, our network of hospitals and physicians spent $483 million in programs for the poor and underserved, and on services for the broader community.

Sutter Health affiliates maintain generous charity care policies that provide full writeoffs for uninsured patients earning less than 200 percent of the federal poverty income guideline. Those earning from 200 percent to 400 percent of the income guideline qualify for substantial discounts.


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A Fair Price

SEIU United Healthcare Workers West says:
Sutter-affiliated hospitals are high priced.

The truth is:
Analyses of public data from the California Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development show Sutter-affiliated providers are competitive overall within Northern California in their billed charges per patient discharge.


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Fair Bill Collection Practices

SEIU United Healthcare Workers West says:
Sutter Health affiliated organizations use harsh bill collection tactics.

The truth is:
In early 2004, Sutter Health affiliates standardized collection practices that prohibit things like wage garnishments and court
warrants as well as property foreclosures. Our collection practices are fair and ethical.


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A Healthy Pension

SEIU United Healthcare Workers West says:
"There's no pension" at Sutter affiliates. (Quote from SEIU President Sal Roselli, on KTVU TV news 6/18/04, 10:00pm)

The truth is:
Sutter Health has a fully-funded pension plan.

Sutter Health also has a consistent record of significant contributions to the Sutter Health Retirement Plan and has invested hundreds of millions of dollars in recent years in its retirement and pension plans.


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A Voice in Staffing

SEIU United Healthcare Workers West says:
Employees at Sutter affiliates have no voice in staffing.

The truth is:
Hospitals affiliated with Sutter Health have individually-negotiated committee structures that give SEIU and its members the opportunity to raise and discuss staffing and other related issues. SEIU has not taken advantage of these structures.


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Accountability

SEIU United Healthcare Workers West says:
Sutter's charity care activities have come to the attention of the U.S. Senate Finance Committee.

The truth is:
In 2005, the Senate Finance Committee asked some of the nation’s largest not-for-profit health care organizations to describe their charitable activities. Among the top ten largest such organizations in the country, Sutter Health was among those organizations that received the Committee's questionnaire.

Sutter Health has responded to the Committee's request for information, and in doing so, our organization was able to tell a particularly impressive story of service to our patients and communities and leadership in following ethical business practices. (See Accountability and Integrity section to read Sutter Health's response to the committee.)


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Training & Education Fund

SEIU United Healthcare Workers West says:
Sutter refuses to participate in a training fund that other hospital systems have agreed to fund.

The truth is:
Each Sutter-affiliate provides generous education and training dollars for employees at the local level. Sutter affiliates have refused to send local training dollars into SEIU’s fund that forces employees to compete for training dollars and opportunities with other hospitals. There is no guarantee employees will be able to access these funds.


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Real Retiree Health Insurance

SEIU United Healthcare Workers West says:
Sutter fails to provide employer-paid health insurance when they retire.

The truth is:
Each Sutter affiliate in negotiations with SEIU has offered a retiree healthcare benefit, some valued up to $25,000, to help employees and spouses pay health premiums upon retirement.


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Reasonable Wage Increases

SEIU United Healthcare Workers West says:
Its (SEIU) members deserve fair and competitive wages.

The truth is:
Hospitals affiliated with Sutter agree, and they negotiate wages based on local market conditions. Wages at Sutter affiliates often
exceed those of competitor organizations.


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