Hundreds of Salinas (Calif.) Valley Memorial Healthcare System employees staged the hospital's first-ever strike yesterday, according to a Californian report.
The union workers are protesting stalled negotiations between the hospital and union and the hospital's plan to lay off up to 150 employees after having compensated CEO Sam Downing nearly $4 million for retirement in the beginning of May.
The National Union of Healthcare Workers represents approximately 800 of the hospital's 1,750 workers. Two-hundred thirty-one employees participated in the strike during the night and day shifts in addition to an unknown number of workers during the 3 p.m. shift.
The strike caused the hospital to close some operations and hire 110 temporary workers from a national firm that supplies replacements for striking employees. The temporary employees must work a minimum of three days and is standard operating procedure, said hospital spokeswoman Adrienne Laurent. The protocol was explained to workers before the strike.
The hospital has offered seven possible dates for continuing contract negotiations, according to Ms. Laurent. In a written statement, hospital management said, "We are committed to doing our part to conduct negotiations with integrity and care for our employees, and in a manner that protects our community and patients."
Read the Californian report on Salinas Valley Memorial Healthcare System.
Related Articles on Hospital Strikes:
850 Employees at California's Salinas Valley to Strike June 21 Over Planned Layoffs
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The union workers are protesting stalled negotiations between the hospital and union and the hospital's plan to lay off up to 150 employees after having compensated CEO Sam Downing nearly $4 million for retirement in the beginning of May.
The National Union of Healthcare Workers represents approximately 800 of the hospital's 1,750 workers. Two-hundred thirty-one employees participated in the strike during the night and day shifts in addition to an unknown number of workers during the 3 p.m. shift.
The strike caused the hospital to close some operations and hire 110 temporary workers from a national firm that supplies replacements for striking employees. The temporary employees must work a minimum of three days and is standard operating procedure, said hospital spokeswoman Adrienne Laurent. The protocol was explained to workers before the strike.
The hospital has offered seven possible dates for continuing contract negotiations, according to Ms. Laurent. In a written statement, hospital management said, "We are committed to doing our part to conduct negotiations with integrity and care for our employees, and in a manner that protects our community and patients."
Read the Californian report on Salinas Valley Memorial Healthcare System.
Related Articles on Hospital Strikes:
850 Employees at California's Salinas Valley to Strike June 21 Over Planned Layoffs
Nursing Protest Looms for Massachusetts Health System
32 Ely-Bloomenson Community Nurses Vote Against Contract, For Strike