“Our 1199SEIU caregivers and workers are dedicated to the well-being of our communities, so the department closures, layoffs, bankruptcy and now criminal investigation of Steward Health Care are of grave concern to our members at North Shore Medical Center, Palmetto General Hospital and Florida Medical Center.

It's a tragedy that the situation has deteriorated to clearly dire circumstances inside the facilities for patients, their families and the healthcare heroes trying to provide the very best care under such large looming issues, as well as demoralizing day-to-day challenges such as cancelled shifts, lack of equipment, medications and upkeep.

Patients and communities are being put at risk without access to services and care, and our caregivers are facing real financial hardship because they need these jobs to support their own families.  

We’re urgently calling on Steward, elected officials and now other governmental agencies to find and fix the serious underlying issues that have caused this spiraling crisis…before it is too late.”

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1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East is the largest union of healthcare workers in Florida, representing more than 30,000 active and retired caregivers across the state. Members of 1199SEIU serve in about 80 nursing homes and 30 hospitals in Florida.