My longtime friend Warren Hinckle -- and Melman, his loyal basset hound -- dropped by our press conference Tuesday at the Cathedral Hotel. Our Sutter CPMC strikers gathered there for a couple of reasons -- to protest the hotel’s housing of the scab force brought in to work the three struck hospitals; and to welcome UNITE HERE Local 2 Pres. Mike Casey, who took the occasion to announce a boycott of Cathedral Hotel, which, not incidentally, is owned by Sutter Corp.
A living legend in our city, Warren’s been editing magazines and newspapers, writing hard-hitting columns and exposés and generally raising literary and other kinds of hell for over four decades. He offered some thoughts regarding our dispute with Sutter CPMC and where his media colleagues stand on things. "This is an extremely righteous strike. The hospital workers have tremendous support among the press in this city," Warren said. "They know a real union when they see it. They know a real grievance when they see it. And you got a lot of silent support in the press corps. Maybe not the editors, but the working press is all for the strike and for you."
Insightful stuff from one who knows. What do you think?
Local 2’s Casey had stinging words for Sutter, which wants to raze its Van Ness Ave. building, abandon 180 longtime Local 2 workers and replace the hotel with another Sutter hospital. "This company is way out of step with this community. This company is a pariah on this community," Casey declared. "Unless they can conform with our San Francisco standards, they should get out of the city."
City Supervisor Chris Daly, whose district takes in the hotel, picked up where Casey left off. "If you’re going to throw Local 2 workers out of their jobs and build your hospital here, you better do what’s right for the workers and show respect for members of both Local 2 and UHW. This is our city. This is a union town."
At the press conference, I visited with striking members, including Fred Wilkes, who works in labor & delivery at California Pacific. Fred’s a picket captain at his worksite and says he’s hearing from the grapevine that conditions are very messy inside. "They need us in there, doing our job and taking care our patients," he said.
I’d like to hear your thoughts on any of this. Blog away.
In unity,
Sal Rosselli
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