Paramilitary .. at .. Medical Center .. Assault Caregivers (CA)

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, Oct. 13 /PRNewswire/ -- 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. <snip>

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. <snip>

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mention the lawsuits for violating civil rights, assault and battery, and anything and everything they can think of.