USC University Hospital nurses and staff picket amid contract negotiations
By Molly Hennessy-Fiske
February 15, 2011
About a 100 USC University Hospital nurses and medical staff picketed outside the hospital entrance Tuesday to demand improved staffing, a protest that came amid contract negotiations between administrators and two powerful unions.
Evelyn Koch, a registered nurse who said she has worked at USC-affiliated hospitals for more than 25 years, used a megaphone to rouse the lunchtime crowd on San Pablo Street, east of downtown Los Angeles.
“Nurses need to be sure our contract ensures our ability to deliver safe patient care,” Koch shouted.
Many joined the picket line wearing red or blue scrubs and toting signs with messages such as: “Fight on for safe patient care” and “Don’t short-staff life support.” The protest lasted from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., organizers said.