RNs Sue Tenet To Protect Pt Care

Published Apr 9, 2002

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This is a big one for nurses everywhere - imagine the changes that will come from this if the nurses win & precedent for Rns to sue their employers over systematic short staffing is set?

Today, registered nurses (RNs) represented by the United Nurses Associations of California/Union of Health Care Professionals (UNAC/UHCP) filed a groundbreaking lawsuit against Tenet Healthcare THC in Superior Court of the State of California, Los Angeles

Registered Nurses Bring Innovative Lawsuit Against Tenet Healthcare to Protect Patient Care and End Unpaid Work

April 04, 2002

Tenet Healthcare Is Sued for Systemically Understaffing RNs in Southern California Hospitals and Violating Wage and Hour Regulations

The suit claims that Tenet Healthcare has engaged in systematic understaffing of RNs throughout Southern California, and failed to pay them for legally protected work breaks.

"Tenet Healthcare has RN staffing shortages throughout Southern California. As a result, many RNs are forced to work through their breaks to provide desperately needed patient care without getting paid. The plaintiffs believe its wrong for Tenet Healthcare to steal from frontline nurses and harm patient care," Sonia Moseley, Executive Vice-President of UNAC/UHCP.

The nurses allege that Tenet Healthcare is violating California's Unfair Competition Law and California Labor Code's wage and hours regulations. The nurses are seeking class action status for their wage and hour claims on behalf of all Tenet Healthcare RNs in Southern California. In an unusual request of the court, the RNs are asking for injunctive relief which would if granted force Tenet Healthcare to provide adequate nursing staff for RNs to take lunches and breaks. .

"The RNs believe the lawsuit will force Tenet Healthcare to operate their hospitals in accordance with California law and will help protect patients. The RNs are also seeking back wages and damages for a class of potentially up to 7,000 Tenet Healthcare RNs who may have not been paid for work at 36

Southern California hospitals. Under the California Unfair Competition Law, the nurses are requesting that Tenet Healthcare disgorge its profits from this practice if it is found to be illegal. .

In California, UNAC/UHCP represents roughly 1,000 Tenet Healthcare RNs at Fountain Valley Regional Hospital, Garden Grove Hospital and Medical Center, Irvine Regional Hospital and Medical Center and Lakewood Regional Medical Center, and a total of 12,000 RNs throughout California. UNAC/UHCP is

affiliated with the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), which has 1.3 million members. UNAC/UHCP is currently involved in labor negotiations with Tenet Healthcare.

Based in Santa Barbara, Tenet Healthcare Corporation is a nationwide provider of health care services, which owns or operates 116 acute care hospitals. Twenty-eight percent of Tenet Healthcare's acute care hospitals are located in Southern California.

http://news.moneycentral.msn.com/ticker/article.asp?Feed=PR&Date=20020404&ID=1536218&Symbol=US:THC