Registered nurses at MemorialCare Long Beach Medical Center and Miller Children’s and Women’s Hospital in Long Beach, Calif., and Alhambra (Calif.) Hospital Medical Center went on strike May 22, a union spokesperson confirmed to Becker’s.
The one-day strike involved nearly 200 nurses at Alhambra Medical Center and nearly 2,200 nurses at the Long Beach facilities, according to the California Nurses Association/National Nurses United.
Long Beach Medical Center nurses contend that during negotiations, management has failed to bargain in good faith over what they say are long emergency department wait times, as well as workplace violence incidents and staffing issues.
“We are striking to stand up for ourselves and our patients who deserve safe staffing,” Brandy Welch, RN, who works at Long Beach Medical Center, said in a May 19 union news release. “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 seek resource nurses and contract accountability.
“A staffing plan without resource nurses means that units are short-staffed before we even walk into our shifts,” Farah Gerami, RN, said in the union release. “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.”
In a news release shared with Becker’s, Alhambra said: “We remain hopeful that ongoing dialogue 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.
“As always, our mission is to serve the health and well-being of our community with excellence, compassion, and safety. We appreciate the community’s trust and patience as we continue to meet this responsibility during the strike and beyond.”
Stephanie Garcia, MSN, RN, vice president of operations at MemorialCare, said in a news release shared with Becker’s: “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 took place after Fountain Valley, Calif.-based MemorialCare shared plans to lay off 115 positions as part of operational and workflow changes across LBMC and Miller Children’s and Women’s Hospital. The reductions, which include nurses, technicians and other clinical and administrative staff, will be implemented by July 1.
