Registered nurses at Children's Hospital & Research Center Oakland in California walked off their jobs yesterday morning as part of a five-day strike over proposed changes to their healthcare benefits, according to a San Francisco Chronicle report.
More than 700 nurses, represented by the California Nurses Association-National Nurses United, have been trying to negotiate with Children's for more than a year. They object to a proposal that would change their health plan to one of two options. Of the two PPOs proposed, one comes with a high deductible but no monthly contribution. The other would cost close to $4,000 per year for family coverage, according to the report.
Nurses in the report said the benefit changes would basically amount to pay cuts.
This is the second strike during negotiations — the nurses also staged a three-day walkout in October. The strike is scheduled to end 7 a.m. Tuesday, and the hospital will continue operating at near normal capacity until then. It has hired 125 replacement nurses and rescheduled elective procedures.
Read the San Francisco Chronicle report on the nursing strike at Children's Hospital Oakland.
Related Articles on Nursing Strikes:
Nurses at Pennsylvania's Wilkes-Barre General Call Off Strike
Nurses at Minnesota's Range Regional Health Services Authorize Strike
University of Chicago Medical Center Nurses Vote to Strike
More than 700 nurses, represented by the California Nurses Association-National Nurses United, have been trying to negotiate with Children's for more than a year. They object to a proposal that would change their health plan to one of two options. Of the two PPOs proposed, one comes with a high deductible but no monthly contribution. The other would cost close to $4,000 per year for family coverage, according to the report.
Nurses in the report said the benefit changes would basically amount to pay cuts.
This is the second strike during negotiations — the nurses also staged a three-day walkout in October. The strike is scheduled to end 7 a.m. Tuesday, and the hospital will continue operating at near normal capacity until then. It has hired 125 replacement nurses and rescheduled elective procedures.
Read the San Francisco Chronicle report on the nursing strike at Children's Hospital Oakland.
Related Articles on Nursing Strikes:
Nurses at Pennsylvania's Wilkes-Barre General Call Off Strike
Nurses at Minnesota's Range Regional Health Services Authorize Strike
University of Chicago Medical Center Nurses Vote to Strike