TITLE
Recommendation to request City Attorney to draft a resolution in support of negotiations between SEIU Healthcare Workers West and Telecare La Casa Mental Health and Rehabilitation Center, in an effort to seek safety improvement to the workplace for the caregivers, patients, and the surrounding community.
DISCUSSION
In the fall of 2012, caregivers at Telecare La Casa Mental Health and Rehabilitation Center voted to form a union with SEIU United Healthcare Workers West to address safety and workplace issues. Members of SEIU United Healthcare Workers West at La Casa have been seeking improvements to safety and general workplace issues through contract negotiations with hospital management at Telecare La Casa Mental Health and Rehabilitation Center for more than a year with no resolution. The Telecare Corporation has received more than $113 million from Los Angeles county taxpayers over the last four years.
There are alarming reports of safety and care incidents at Telecare La Casa Mental Health and Rehabilitation Center including:
• More than 175 assaults between patients last year;
• Almost 40 patient on staff assaults last year;
• More than 30 patient escapes since 2010, including an escape in May 2013 that resulted in the patient's death.
Caregivers at Telecare La Casa have reported the above incidents to the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors in June of 2013.
This resolution will demonstrate the importance of the safety of all caregivers, patients, or residents in the city of Long Beach.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no fiscal impact
SUGGESTED ACTION
Approve recommendation.
Respectfully Submitted,
STEVEN NEAL
COUNCILMEMBER, NINTH DISTRICT
PATRICK O'DONNELL
COUNCILMEMBER, FOURTH DISTRICT
AL AUSTIN
COUNCILMAN, EIGHTH DISTRICT