Los Angeles Coalition to Support Hotel Workers
Hotel Workers' Insurance Extended
Associated Press - November 19, 2004

Two other health care providers joined Kaiser Permanente on Thursday in agreeing to provide two months of additional medical coverage to San Francisco hotel workers who have been locked out of their jobs and were at risk of losing their benefits on Dec. 1.

The decisions by PacifiCare Health Systems and Chinese Community Health Plan mean that all of the estimated 4,300 locked-out workers will have health insurance while negotiations continue on a new labor contract, said Mike Casey, president of Unite Here Local 2, the union that represents hotel employees.

Kaiser announced on Tuesday that it would extend by 60 days its coverage of 3,500 hotel workers whose employer-sponsored health care is due to expire at the end of the month. PacifiCare provides health care to another 750 hotel workers, and the Chinese Community Health Plan enrolls about 50.

Mayor Gavin Newsom, who was involved in the helping the union broker the agreements, praised the three health plans and reiterated his call for the 14 hotels at the center of the dispute to let the workers back to work during ongoing contract talks.


Los Angeles Coalition to Support Hotel Workers
(213) 486-9880 x109 or (213) 675-8960
www.SupportLAHotelWorkers.com