California Nurses Strike: 1-Day Walkout at 3 Hospitals
- Nurses at MemorialCare Long Beach Medical Centre, Miller Children’s and Women’s Hospital, and Alhambra Hospital Medical Center initiated a one-day strike on May 22, according to a california...
- The Long Beach medical Center nurses are protesting what they describe as the administration's failure to negotiate in good faith regarding emergency department wait times, workplace violence, and...
- Brandy Welch,a registered nurse at Long Beach Medical Center,stated in a union release on May 19,"We are striking to stand up for ourselves and our patients who deserve...
California nurses initiated a one-day strike at three hospitals on May 22, demanding better staffing levels and improved patient care.Nearly 2,200 nurses at Long Beach facilities and some 200 from Alhambra Medical Center participated in the California nurses strike. Long Beach nurses cited unaddressed concerns like extended emergency room wait times and workplace violence. Alhambra nurses focused on the need for resource nurses to ensure adequate breaks. The nurses are fighting for safer working conditions and better patient outcomes. The strike followed MemorialCare’s declaration of upcoming layoffs. News Directory 3 monitors the situation closely. Discover what steps are being taken to reach a resolution.
California nurses Launch Strike Over Staffing, Patient Safety Concerns
Nurses at MemorialCare Long Beach Medical Centre, Miller Children’s and Women’s Hospital, and Alhambra Hospital Medical Center initiated a one-day strike on May 22, according to a california Nurses Association/National Nurses United spokesperson. The California nurses strike involved approximately 200 nurses at Alhambra Medical Center and nearly 2,200 at the Long Beach facilities.
The Long Beach medical Center nurses are protesting what they describe as the administration’s failure to negotiate in good faith regarding emergency department wait times, workplace violence, and staffing levels. These issues are central to their fight for improved patient care and nurse well-being.
Brandy Welch,a registered nurse at Long Beach Medical Center,stated in a union release on May 19,”We are striking to stand up for ourselves and our patients who deserve safe staffing. in the emergency department, nurses don’t have time to take meal or rest breaks because we are so busy. Patients are sicker and that means they need more care. When we have a lot of very ill patients, we should be assigned fewer patients, but that is not happening.”
Alhambra nurses are advocating for resource nurses and greater contract accountability to ensure appropriate staffing levels and adequate support during their shifts. The California nurses strike highlights their commitment to better working conditions.
Farah Gerami, RN, explained, “A staffing plan without resource nurses means that units are short-staffed before we even walk into our shifts. It’s an inappropriate standard of care and leaves nurses exhausted and unable to provide the care we believe our patients deserve.We are striking to ensure there is a resource nurse scheduled for our shifts, so that we can take a break to eat, use the bathroom, and have a breather.”
Alhambra Hospital Medical Center released a statement saying, “We remain hopeful that ongoing dialog between the nursing union and hospital leadership will result in a resolution that reflects the dedication and professionalism of our nurses, while sustaining the operational integrity of the hospital.” The hospital emphasized its commitment to community health and safety during and after the strike.
Stephanie Garcia, MSN, RN, vice president of operations at MemorialCare, expressed disappointment in a statement: ”We are extremely disappointed that the union has chosen this damaging course of action. We still believe the best path to a fair and equitable contract is through continued dialogue at the bargaining table — not on the picket line.We remain ready and committed to returning to negotiations and focusing our efforts on reaching resolution.”
The strike occurred after MemorialCare announced plans to lay off 115 employees across LBMC and Miller Children’s and Women’s Hospital by July 1, impacting nurses, technicians, and administrative staff.
what’s next
Negotiations between the hospitals and the California Nurses Association/National Nurses United are expected to continue as both sides seek to resolve the staffing and patient safety issues that led to the strike.