CIR Joins Coalition Fighting to Save Public Health

CIR members at San Francisco General Hospital have joined the new multi-organization Coalition to Save Public Health in response to Mayor Gavin Newsom's massive mid-year cuts to the Department of Public Health's budget.

Over twenty unions, NGOs, social service organizations, and faith-based groups have come together to fight these cuts that will gut the vital services of San Francisco's neediest populations. At SFGH, the cuts signal the downgrading of RNs to LVNs in many parts of the hospital, as well as eliminating the clerks in areas where residents engage in a daily struggle to deliver quality patient care.

The present strategy of the Coalition is two-pronged: first, the group is pressuring the Mayor to spare the DPH by making alternative cuts from less vital areas in the city. Second, they are organizing to put a revenue measure on the June ballot to generate more funds for the city.

The Coalition usually meets Monday evenings at 5:30 pm at revolving locations in the city. To learn how you can get involved, contact CIR Organizer Julia Donahue at 415-572-0589 or jdonahue@cirseiu.org.