Critically needed hospital beds are #USWMade

As hospitalizations from the Covid-19 pandemic skyrocket, members of USW Local 525U in Batesville, Indiana, are working overtime to make critically needed hospital beds. 
 
Hillrom is hiring additional employees to make an additional 15,000 beds over normal production. The drivers delivering the beds to New York and other areas battling an overwhelming number of Covid-19 cases are employees of Hillrom and represented by our siblings at the Teamsters. 
“We’re so proud of our members at Hillrom for answering the call during this pandemic,” said Mike Millsap, director of USW District 7. “Of course, the health and safety of our members is top of mind as we work as hard as humanly possible to address this critical need. It represents what our union is about: working hard, coming together and taking care of each other.” 
 
Local 525U President Michelle Taylor has been working hard at Hillrom and also as a union leader to help keep members safe and be sure they’re protected if they or a family member need sick time off. 
“I’ve never been more proud to be a Steelworker,” said Taylor, whose local also includes casket makers at Batesville Casket. “Not only is our work more important than ever, but our union – especially our fight for health and safety and our contract protections that we negotiated together – are more valuable than ever. If anyone ever questioned the value of a union, this is a great example of why we’re stronger together as Steelworkers.”
 
Hillrom said in a press release that it is doubling production of ventilators, intensive care unit (ICU) and med-surg unit smart hospital beds and diagnostic equipment including thermostat prob covers and blood pressure devices and cuffs.

“We are committed to scaling production as rapidly as we can to meet the challenges the world is facing with COVID-19,” said Hillrom President and CEO John Groetelaars. “Hillrom’s critical care, vitals monitoring and respiratory products can help caregivers and patients as coronavirus continues to cause severe illness around the world. We are focused on our employees’ health and safety, and on ensuring that our products are available when and where our customers and patients need them.”

 

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