Nearly 1,000 nurses who work at Contra Costa Regional Medical Center, a public hospital in Martinez, Calif., and clinics across the Contra Costa County began a two-day strike Oct. 6, according to a Contra Costa Times report.
The workers, who are represented by the California Nurses Association/National Nurses United, are advocating for a hefty raise and calling on the county to immediately improve working conditions so experienced nurses will stop leaving the county for better paying jobs at nearby private hospitals. According to the union, there is a 30 percent wage gap for county-registered nurses compared to the nearby private hospitals, and more than 100 nurses have left the county in the last year.
The strike has forced the county to staff its hospital and 11 medical clinics with replacement workers.
"The care and safety of our patients is our top priority and we hope to be able to resolve this as quickly as possible. The Superior Court of California granted us a preliminary injunction requiring some nurses from Detention Services, Inpatient Psychiatric Services and Psychiatric Emergency Services to report to work on the scheduled work action days. An additional 120 positions will be filled by replacement nurses," Contra Costa Health Services Director William Walker said in a news release
Mr. Walker said professional nurses were recruited as replacement workers to ensure essential services are available during the work action.
Nurses have been in negotiations with the county for 15 months and have been working without a contract since July.
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