More than a hundred 1199SEIU members from Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore came out on February 11 to sing, pray and call for justice at the hospital. Caregivers are in contract negotiations with the healthcare behemoth that reported nearly $180 million of income and $2.6 billion in assets in 2010.“To be number one, you have to treat everyone decently,” explained Thurman Bell, an 1199 bargaining committee member who works in Central Sterile. His view, echoed by many workers on hand, refers to the hospital’s recent fall to number two in the rankings of U.S. News & World Report, after 22 years being ranked as the number-one hospital in the nation. “We’ve poured out hearts and souls into this place, and they’re offering us a half a percent. We can’t live like that.”In addition to just half- a-percent annual wage increases for five years, Hopkins’ management has put on the table significant healthcare take-backs that would cost the average worker $1,800 more a year. Workers are calling for a better deal, particularly in light of the lavish pay Hopkins has awarded its top execs, including total compensation that increased 26 percent annually between 2008 and 2010 and totaled $25 million for its seven highest-paid executives.- See more at: http://www.1199seiu.org/johns_hopkins_caregivers_hold_prayer_vigil_call_for_fair_pay#sthash.tNmotfdZ.dpuf- See more at: http://www.1199seiu.org/johns_hopkins_caregivers_hold_prayer_vigil_call_for_fair_pay#sthash.tNmotfdZ.dpuf