Howard Brown Health workers go on strike in protest of planned layoffs
Some of 400 workers protesting outside Howard Brown Sheridan location in Uptown
CHICAGO (WLS) -- Hundreds of workers at Howard Brown Health went on strike Tuesday over what they say are unfair staffing issues and labor practices.
Starting at 9 a.m., over 400 workers started to protest at 11 locations throughout the city, including the Howard Brown Health Sheridan location in Uptown.
"It's these workers saying, 'no, we're just not going to lay down and take this.' They are doing this. They're doing absolutely everything they can to make sure they organize to win their jobs back," lead organizer Margo Gislain said.
"Shockingly, people are out here despite the rain, and honestly it's been really uplifting to see people come out and support us in this weather," said Olivia Prager, Howard Brown Health worker.
Some Howard Brown Health workers prepared signs Monday afternoon for a three-day strike.
"We have shown up to bargain in good faith every time," said former Howard Brown Health event planner Julian Modugno.
The two sides began bargaining in November, but Howard Brown Health confirmed last week that it was moving ahead with its proposed workforce reductions to close a $12 million revenue shortfall.
"We would not do this, if we did not have to. But we are very concerned. If we cannot live within our means and course correct, we will put the whole agency and care for patients in jeopardy," said David Ernesto Munar, Howard Brown Health president and CEO.
Modugno is one of 60 workers let go.
Union members argue the LGBTQ+ focused health organization is already short-staffed. They warn the job cuts will further compromise care for those who need it the most.
"At Sheridan, we already don't have enough bilingual Spanish-speaking staff so there are plenty of times myself, I have to jump in help," Howard Brown Health Bilingual Health Educator Josseline Almengor said.
Almengor said she's fighting for her patients and her colleagues who lost their jobs.
"There's been a lot of emotions in the past days, mainly anger, but that anger is also fueling us because Howard Brown doesn't appreciate their staff, nevertheless their patients," Almengor said.
A Howard Brown Health spokesperson said in an email statement late Monday afternoon: "We support our employees in the union and their right to express their opinion. For our patients, we are continuing services."
One of those laid off was Lindsey Martin, who's been a licensed clinical therapist at Howard Brown for eight years.
"All of our access to calling patients was shut off. All of our emails were shut off. We couldn't communicate with our teammates anymore. One of my teammates, a therapist, was in the middle of a phone call with a patient. And it was just suddenly cut off, and she has no way to contact this patient. No way to explain what happened. It's extremely traumatic," Martin said. "I think that anybody can look at the situation and know the wrong thing to do is to illegally lay people off, and especially in this way, especially around the holidays, especially when we're already short-staffed, especially when we're living in a time when these attacks against the LGBTQ+ community are on the rise."
Munar said losing federal dollars forced them to make some tough financial decisions.
"We have experienced this year a loss of federal funding, both from COVID dollars as well as federally negotiated pharmacy programs, to the tune of about $12 million. So we're losing about $1 million a month," he said.
The president said management is filling in to work the front desk during the three-day strike, as operations will be disrupted.
"It will affect patient care. We are not going to have a full force, and we are concerned that patients could be discouraged, not wanting to cross picket lines, which is understandable. And so we are disheartened that that unions' response to our financial crisis is to walk off, but that's the right," Munar said.
The president said they'd love to eventually be able to re-hire employees, if they can do so economically.
