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Formerly the Mid-South Interfaith Network for Economic Justice

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Faith Leaders’ Open Letter to St. Francis CEO David Archer

Read the text of the letter to Mr. Archer

In February, Workers Interfaith Network first met with nurses and healthcare workers
at St. Francis Hospital who were organizing with the Service Employees International Union (SEIU.)
Our organization was encouraged that Tenet Healthcare (St. Francis’ parent corporation) and SEIU
had signed an agreement to uphold mutually respectful standards of conduct during the union organizing
drive that SEIU is conducting at St. Francis. Tenet’s agreement not to attempt to influence workers
in their decision about a union, and SEIU’s agreement not to denigrate the company were positive
steps in a time when union organizing drives are frequently rancorous.

On March 31^st, Workers Interfaith Network leaders met with St. Francis employees who have
been outspoken supporters for unionization. For the most part, these certified nursing assistants,
unit secretaries, technicians, licensed practical nurses, and registered nurses want to form a union because of their
belief that lower patient/staffing ratios and more input into patient care would enable them to deliver better care to their patients.
Some workers also expressed concern about inconsistent rules and treatment in the workplace.

Despite St. Francis agreement to remain neutral during the union’s organizing drive, the workers we met
with on March 31^st shared numerous incidents in which supervisors and managers expressed disapproval
of the union to workers. Four strong union supporters have been terminated in recent weeks. SEIU has
filed a complaint with an arbitrator alleging that St. Francis has violated the neutrality agreement in more than 200 incidents.

In order to urge St. Francis to live up to its mission statement, to Catholic Social Teaching which affirms the rights
of workers to join unions, and to the neutrality agreement it has signed, we gathered in a prayer vigil outside
of St. Francis Hospital on April 23rd, 2008. Our purpose was not to endorse unionization at St. Francis.
Whether to vote for a union or not is a decision for workers to make themselves. We were present to uphold the
right of workers there to organize a union without fear of interference or harassment. We also delivered the
attached letter to St. Francis CEO David Archer, the text of which is below.

If you have questions about the campaign at St. Francis or this letter, please call Rev. Rebekah Jordan at (901) 332-3570.

***************************************************************************

    Mr. David Archer, CEO
    St. Francis Hospital
    5959 Park Ave.
    Memphis, TN 38119

Dear Mr. Archer,

    As an organization of faith leaders who uphold the rights of workers in our community, the Mid-South Interfaith
   Network for Economic Justice is gathered in prayer at St. Francis today. We have joined together out of deep
   concern about the reports we have heard from employees about the termination of four workers who have
   been part of a union organizing drive at the hospital.

    Our organization was encouraged to learn in January of the agreement that Tenet Healthcare and the Service
    Employees International Union (SEIU) signed, to uphold mutually respectful standards of conduct during
    the union organizing drive that SEIU is conducting at St. Francis. Tenet’s agreement to not attempt to influence
    workers in their decision about a union, and SEIU’s agreement not to denigrate the company were positive
    steps in a time where union organizing drives are frequently rancorous.

   Since that time, Mid-South Interfaith Network staff and board members have met with St. Francis employees
   who have shared numerous incidents in which supervisors expressed disapproval of unionization. If these
   reports are accurate, then clear violations of St. Francis’ pledge to be neutral have taken place. Our staff
   and board have also met with two of the four workers are strong union supporters and who have been terminated.
   We were concerned to learn that SEIU has filed a complaint with an arbitrator which alleges that St. Francis
    has violated its neutrality agreement in more than 200 incidents.

    We urge St. Francis to live up to the agreement that it has signed, and to ensure that your managerial and
    supervisory staff do not attempt to influence workers in their decision about the union. Workers must not be
    harassed or retaliated against for expressing support for unionization.

    As Pope Paul VI expressed in The Church in the Modern World, “among the basic rights of the human
    person must be counted the right of freely founding labor unions…Another such right is that of taking part freely
   in the activity of these unions without fear of reprisal.” As an institution in the Catholic healthcare tradition,
we pray that St. Francis will treat its workers in accordance with Catholic Social Teaching,
which has for centuries continually affirmed the rights of workers to join unions. Finally, we believe that for
   St. Francis to live according to its own mission statement and core values of integrity and dignity, it is
   essential that workers have a voice in the workplace decisions that so deeply affect their lives.

Sincerely,

   Rev. Justin Allen, University of Memphis Wesley Foundation
   Rev. Leroy Anderson, Mt. Olive Christian Methodist Episcopal Church
   Father John Atkinson, Retired, Catholic Diocese of West Tennessee
   Dr. Nabil Bayakly, Muslims in Memphis
   Rev. Dr. Paul Blankenship, Memphis Theological Seminary
   Sister Nicholas Catrambone, B.V.M.
   Rev. George Coleman, Cleaves Memorial Christian Methodist Episcopal Church
   Rev. Cheryl Cornish, First Congregational Church (United Church of Christ)
   Rev. Daisy Diaz, Nueva Direccion Church
   Rev. Renee Dillard, St. John’s United Methodist Church
   Rev. Mary Edwards, Greenleaf Christian Methodist Episcopal Church
   Rev. Carol Gardner, St. Mary’s Episcopal Cathedral
   Rev. John Gilmore, Open Heart Spiritual Center
   Rev. Lora Jean Gowan, St. John’s United Methodist Church
   Rev. Ivan N. Herman, Balmoral Presbyterian Church
   Rev. Dr. Barbara Holmes, Memphis Theological Seminary
   Rev. Verlie Horton, Christ Tabernacle African Methodist Episcopal Church
   Rev. J. Jeffrey Irwin, Metro Office of Urban Ministries of the United Methodist Church
   Rev. Dr. Jonathan L. Jeffords, St. John’s United Methodist Church
   Rev. Andre Johnson, Gifts of Life Ministries
   Rev. Dr. R. Craig Jordan, Trinity United Methodist Church
   Rev. Rebekah Jordan, Mid-South Interfaith Network for Economic Justice
   Father Al Kirk, Church of the Holy Spirit
   Rev. Melvin Lee, Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church – Hyde Park
   Rev. Dr. Mark Matheny, St. Luke’s United Methodist Church
   Rev. Timothy M. Meadows, Holy Trinity United Church of Christ
   Rev. Dr. Rosalyn R. Nichols, Freedom’s Chapel Christian Church
   Rev. Joe T. Porter, Retired, Episcopal Church
   Rev. Dr. Lee Ramsey, Memphis Theological Seminary
   Rev. Ellen D. Roberds, Member at Large, Presbytery of the Mid-South
   Rev. Willa Ross, Christian Methodist Episcopal Church, Department of Christian Education
   Pastor Elliot R. Shelton, Promise Land Church
   Rev. Bindy Snyder, Memphis Theological Seminary
   Rev. Timothy F. Sullivan, C.S.P., Saint Patrick Catholic Church
   Rev. William M. Vaughan, Memphis School of Servant Leadership
   Rev. Dr. Robert S. Wood, Trinity Presbyterian Church
   Rev. George Yandell, Calvary Episcopal Church

Congregations and Organizations Are Listed for Identification Purposes Only

Pictures and Update: April 23rd Prayer Vigil to Support the Right of St. Francis Workers to Organize