Contact
Khanh Weinberg: 408.678.3364
Jerry Jimenez: 408.678.3391
Strike imminent: County workers address community on Thursday
County unable to recruit and retain public safety and health care workers, creating emergency situation
SAN JOSE, Calif. – Santa Clara County 911 dispatchers and health care workers will hold a press conference on Thursday to sound the alarm on staffing shortages that are endangering public safety and putting the county at financial risk when it comes to health care reform.
Read the letter from the county (PDF)
WHEN: Noon, Thursday, Aug. 22
WHERE: 70 W. Hedding St., San Jose
WHY:
911
Santa Clara County is having difficulty recruiting and retaining top talent throughout the county. Currently 911 dispatchers are working mandatory overtime. In the month of August alone, more than 2,030 hours of overtime have been assigned to only 56 dispatchers, for an average of 36 hours per dispatcher. That’s similar to having 56 dispatchers working five weeks in one month. The strain and stress on dispatchers is posing a threat to public safety.
Health care
Chronic vacancies and turnover of health care professionals, from physical therapists to pharmacists, leave the county ill-prepared to meet the demands of health care reform.
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The Service Employees International Union is an organization of 2.1 million members united by the belief in the dignity and worth of workers and the services they provide. SEIU is dedicated to improving the lives of workers and their families and creating a more just and humane society. For more information, visit www.seiu521.org
