Nurses at Kaiser Sunset to Lead Candlelight Vigil for a Fair Contract
What: Candlelight vigil for a fair contract
When: Wednesday, May 4th at 8:15pm
Where: Kaiser Los Angeles Medical Center, 4867 W. Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles
Visuals: Somber and dignified gathering of healthcare workers in front of hospital, holding candles.
LOS ANGELES – Hundreds of Registered Nurses (RNs) at Kaiser Los Angeles Medical Center (LAMC) will participate in a candlelight vigil tonight to urge Kaiser Permanente to bargain in good faith toward a fair contract that minimizes risks to patient care.
The nurses are members of the National Union of Healthcare Workers (NUHW), and their primary issue is Kaiser’s inadequate staffing levels for Registered Nurses. NUHW RNs have proposed that the hospital agree to provide the nurses with meaningful recourse to enforce staffing ratios that are adequate for safe and effective patient care.
RNs at Kaiser LAMC engaged in a successful one-day strike in March. Despite the nurses’ entreaties to Kaiser to take serious steps in negotiations toward a contract settlement, Kaiser management has continued to bargain regressively, recently proposing that nurses accept cuts to their retirement and healthcare benefits, despite the fact that Kaiser Permanente has generated over $4 billion in profits over the last two years.
LAMC RNs have authorized another one-day strike for later this month. The nurses will be joined in their upcoming strike by social workers, psychologists, dieticians and other healthcare professionals at hospitals and clinics throughout Southern California.
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