Providence St. Joseph Nurses Prepping for Strike
The labor dispute between nurses and management at Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center is escalating, with the union preparing a one-day strike on Tuesday and talk of a two-day lockout beginning Wednesday (because the contracted temps to fill-in Tuesday have to stay a minium three days).
Here's Jason Kandel's story from Saturday:
BURBANK - Management at Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center and the union that represents its employees have discussed bringing in a federal mediator to help move stalled contract negotiations forward, but it won't be in time for a planned one-day strike at 6 a.m. on June 12.The 1,500 employees represented by the SEIU United Healthcare Workers-West and SEIU Local 121RN -- announced last month that they will protest unfair labor practices and call on the hospital to work with its employees on issues affecting patient care.
The bargaining committee is stalled over a no-subcontracting clause -- which would ensure the employees wouldn't be laid off, retirement health benefits, a unionized education fund, safer staffing ratios and to bring an outside arbitrator for patient care. But the group has made movement on wages.
Meanwhile, the union is busy making signs for the picket, according this release:
LOS ANGELES, June 8 /PRNewswire/ -- In preparation for their one-day strike on Tuesday, and anticipated illegal lockout on Wednesday, caregivers from Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center in Burbank will spend Sunday evening making picket signs calling on hospital administrators to support patient care by bargaining fairly.
Workers represented by SEIU United Healthcare Workers-West and SEIU Local 121RN plan an Unfair Labor Practices strike on Tuesday, June 12. Caregivers are seeking a fair contract that meets industry standards and is designed to attract and retain a skilled hospital workforce, thus improving patient care. The strike is also intended
to protest unfair actions by hospital administrators.
WHAT: Hospital caregivers assembling and inscribing picket signs that will be used on the strike at Providence Saint Joseph in Burbank
WHO: Caregivers represented by SEIU United Healthcare Workers-West and SEIU Local 121RN
WHEN: Sunday, June 10, 6 p.m.
WHERE: SEIU Local 121RN office 4146 Lankershim Blvd. North Hollywood 91602
SEIU United Healthcare Workers-West and SEIU Local 121RN represent more than 147,000 healthcare workers in California. Together, both locals represent every type of caregiver, including nursing, professional, technical and service workers. Our mission is to ensure quality healthcare for all.