13,000 California nurses set to strike June 10

[NorthBay]

From Examiner 404 - page not found

About 13,000 California nurses are set to strike on June 10 if agreement can't be reached with the hospitals they are employed by. National Nurses United bargaining director Jill Furillo said the one-day work stoppage would involve the following hospitals in California:

• University of California Hospitals
  
• Citrus Valley Medical Center in Covina
  
• San Pedro Hospital in Los Angeles
  
• Olympia Medical Center in Los Angeles
  

A walkout of almost 12,000 nurses in Minnesota is scheduled to happen together with the California strike, which would make it the largest nurse strike in the nation's history.

The key issue for the nurses is maintaining safe and adequate nurse-to-patient staffing ratios. California law dictates hospitals follow minimum ratios, for instance requiring one nurse for every two patients in intensive care or a nurse for every three patients in labor and delivery. The strikers seek to strengthen enforcement and protect against any ratio rollback. The union says staffing is not adequate and that serious patient care issues are left unaddressed. According to the union, a recent University of Pennsylvania study found that thousands of lives could be saved annually by improving nurse-to-patient ratios. Other patient safeguards like guaranteeing meal breaks are sought along with retirement protection, cited by the union as a key factor in nurse recruitment and retention.

The nurses say the action is necessary to bring the hospitals to the bargaining table. But Maureen Schriner, a spokeswoman for the Minnesota hospitals, said the strike notice "clearly shows the union is interested only in a strike and has demonstrated that it does not want to negotiate in good faith." In a statement, the University of California called the one-day work stoppage "unlawful, a violation of good-faith bargaining requirements and a clear violation of the parties' contract." The UC statement maintains they have an exemplary record in maintaining nurse-to-patient ratios citing findings of a neutral third party mediator. The statement also publicizes their track record of competitive wages and benefits. The hospital groups maintain they will do whatever is necessary to guarantee patient safety should the strike occur. Hospital and nurse representatives are scheduled to meet with federal mediators this week.

Question: I received an email from Health Source Global, the agency who is getting nurses to fill the positions of the striking nurses for the day on June 10th, asking if I would be willing to work a 12-hour shift at one of the UC campuses. I don't like the idea of crossing a picket line, especially a CNA picket line, but I recognize that the patients need care regardless of contract negotiations. I am not a member of the CNA right now, but I probably will be in the future. Would working this one day put me at a disadvantage when applying to a UC hospital or joining the CNA? I absolutely refuse to work if it will put my future employment in jeopardy. Thanks for your advice.

[NickiLaughs, ADN, BSN, RN]

I know that as a current union employee I am not allowed to work a strike. I imagine it could affect your employment? There was nothing about it on my employment application. Nurses may remember you though if nothing else and hold a grudge. I wouldn't do it. Usually they resolve the issue at the last minute though.

[caliotter3]

I doubt that anything like this in your past would show up in your future job hunts. After all, the past is the past. Different story if your involvement were of a different nature and still a fact when you apply for a job.

[journalist298]

Hi Nicki,

I'm a reporter for the Bay Citizen (baycitizen.org), a new non-profit news organization in SF that is taking over the Bay Area section of the New York Times. I'll be covering the strike Thursday and wanted to know if I could talk to you at some point tomorrow, either before 1:30 or after 5:30, to do some pre-reporting and also if you might be available to speak Thursday during the strike. If you know of any other nurses who are part of the union, please let me know. I would be interested in talking to them.

Thanks,

Tess

[NickiLaughs, ADN, BSN, RN]

I am sorry, but I am not a UC nurse. I am a part of the same union, but with a different hospital system. Furthermore I am not who one would talk to in regards to any information about strikes.