Kalani Kauwe, a physical therapist and member of SEIU Local 1107, joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast to discuss the ongoing struggle for healthcare workers’ rights at Sunrise Hospital in Las Vegas. Kauwe shed light on the challenges faced by healthcare professionals, the impact of corporate ownership on patient care and the progress made in union organizing efforts.
Kauwe highlighted the stark contrast between the hospital's soaring profits and the stagnant wages of healthcare workers. He revealed that HCA, the parent company of Sunrise Hospital, reported profits of $5.7 billion in 2024, while employees struggled with wage compression and inadequate compensation. This disparity has led to burnout and staff shortages, ultimately affecting patient care quality. Kauwe emphasized the need for reinvestment in ground-level care and fair compensation for healthcare professionals to ensure sustainable, high-quality patient care.
The organizing campaign at Sunrise Hospital proved to be a swift and successful endeavor. Kauwe described how healthcare professionals, including physical therapists, occupational therapists, speech therapists, pharmacists, social workers and lab medical technologists, united to form a union. The campaign garnered overwhelming support, with over 80 percent of eligible voters participating and voting in favor of unionization. This rapid success caught hospital administration off guard and demonstrated the strong desire among healthcare workers for collective bargaining power.
As negotiations for the first contract continue, Kauwe outlined the key issues at stake. The union is pushing for a fair wage scale, improved benefits packages and reasonable attendance policies. While progress has been made on many contract articles, challenges remain in areas where the hospital seeks to maintain control over employees. Kauwe stressed the importance of a contract that respects healthcare professionals' expertise and ensures they can provide quality care without undue pressure or restrictions.
To hear more about the ongoing fight for healthcare workers' rights at Sunrise Hospital, listen to the full episode of America's Work Force Union Podcast.