DOCTORS, NURSES AND HEALTH CARE workers rallied together in front of Wilma Chan Highland Hospital in Oakland in response to President Donald Trump and Congress cutting $1.2 trillion in federal health care spending.
The Alameda Health System that oversees the hospital serves nearly 127,000 patients annually, many of whom rely on Medi-Cal, California’s Medicaid program. Early projections from AHS say the health system could lose over $100 million annually in federal funding by 2030.
The services AHS provides include special services for children and newborns, mental health and substance abuse disorder treatment, preventative services, rehabilitation services, dental and vision services, transportation services, emergency medical services, and prescription drugs.
Additionally, eligibility specialists, hospital food workers, environmental service workers who are responsible for maintaining a clean and sanitary environment for health care facilities, among many others, will also be impacted by the cuts.
Speakers from Service Employees International Union 1021, the workers’ union that represents the hospital’s workers, incited chants of “when we fight, we win” led by SEIU 1021 president Theresa Rutherford, and “we’re fired up, we won’t take it no more” led by AHS worker Tawanda Gilbert.
The two urged supporters to fight for what’s right for the country and to ensure Gov. Gavin Newsom and other legislators prioritize Medicaid, Medi-Cal, workers and communities.
‘Moral and fiscal failure’
Alameda County Supervisor Nikki Fortunato Bas said Trump’s Medicaid budget cuts are a devastating assault on working and vulnerable people disguised as fiscal policy. Encouraging the community to act and preserve the dignity of the most vulnerable, Fortunato Bas emphasized other intersecting areas that will feel the direct hits of Trump’s billions of dollars cutting into the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, a federal government food program, which could result in billions of families facing hunger.
An increase in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement actions could also discourage immigrant communities from seeking adequate medical help.
“Will we stand for that?” she asked, “This budget is a moral failure. It’s a fiscal failure. This is a corporate giveaway. Over the next 10 years, 1% of the richest people in this country will get a tax break of a trillion dollars.”
Many are demanding more accountability from elected officials.
“Our number one purpose is why we’re out here today, is allow our voices to be heard and to hold some serious accountability to these elected officials,” said SEIU 1021 regional vice president Derrick Boutte.
Michael Murray, a respiratory care practitioner at Wilma Chan Highland Hospital for nearly three decades, shared how Trump’s tax cuts on health care would exacerbate longer wait times and shorter staffing — overall worsening the care for patients at the safety net hospital.
“We deal with breathing, which is not something that you can wait on,” said Murray. “The results of this are catastrophic. We can’t fix the system by ourselves. We need the politicians to kind of support us. That’s why we’re here. This is a rough time, and we’re trying to fix it, instead of encouraging this. Keep coming in, and we’ll fight on our end.”
The next rally by SEIU 1021 will be held July 26 at 1 p.m. at Snow Park in Oakland.
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