Highland Strike for Black Health and Vitality

Start: Monday, July 20, 202012:00 PM

End: Monday, July 20, 2020 2:00 PM

Join workers walking out for Black Health and Vitality! Black healthcare workers, patients, and communities are on the frontline of the COVID-19 pandemic. Even before the pandemic, mismanagement of our public hospital system was depriving workers of access to vital resources and proper staffing. Unequal health outcomes for Black patients continue to pose a significant threat to public well being. With lives on the line, health professionals and patients alike are demanding action. Alameda Health System must become accountable to the public and put an end to its racist health inequities.

HOW WE STRIKE

From 12-2pm healthcare workers will walk out from all AHS facilities, while community supporters rally outside Highland Hospital in East Oakland and Fairmont Hospital in San Leandro.

After walking out, we will lie down for 8 minutes and 46 seconds—the time in which George Floyd was suffocating under a police officer’s knee—to honor George Floyd as well as the Black healthcare workers who have died from lack of PPE while fighting Covid-19.

Black frontline healthcare workers and patients will speak on the urgency of these issues.

WHY WE STRIKE

The dire situation of our public health system disproportionately affects Black communities.

Under the current unelected, unaccountable administration, Black patients and workers often receive inferior treatment in our AHS facilities, all while management tries to take away the rights, pay, and benefits of the Black unionized workers who are fighting to save lives.

Meanwhile, the county’s lack of solutions for the houselessness pandemic strains the public health system and poses severe threats to the safety of Alameda County’s most vulnerable residents. We call on the Alameda County Board of Supervisors to take responsibility for our public health and unequal health outcomes for Black communities!

WHAT WE ARE STRIKING FOR

We demand that the County Board of Supervisors regain control of AHS!

We demand fair contracts for frontline healthcare workers at AHS that recognize the invaluable services to the community!

We demand an increase in funding to AHS to improve the quality of care for our patients, the majority of whom are Black and Brown!

We demand equal treatment and representation within the Alameda Health System!

#HealthJusticeNow!