Registered nurses at Hazel Hawkins Memorial Hospital in Hollister, Calif., are scheduled to strike for one day beginning at 6 a.m. Aug. 24, the California Nurses Association said.
The nurses said they are striking due to concerns over staffing and working conditions, among other issues.
"Nurses would prefer not to strike but we must because the board of directors and upper management have refused to address our concerns about the safety and quality of patient care at Hazel Hawkins," Courtney Parrinello, RN, said in a prepared statement.
The hospital expressed disappointment about the upcoming strike.
"Unfortunately, even after meeting with a state-appointed mediator, we are at an impasse in the negotiation process," hospital CEO Ken Underwood said in a statement.
"We are disappointed by this action and believe a strike is not in anyone's best interest — our patients, our staff or our community," he added.
Mr. Underwood also contends that HHMH has an excellent nursing staff and offers a competitive salary and benefits package. He said the hospital is committed "to continuing a respectful and collaborative negotiating process in order to reach a prompt and fair resolution with our nurses, and also one that is fair to the community we serve."
In the meantime, the hospital has activated a strike incident command center and initiated a plan to manage the strike, including contracting for experienced temporary nurses, who will work alongside HHMH nurses who choose to continue working during the strike.
During the strike, nurses will also have a patient care protection task force available to respond in an emergency situation, the union said.
The upcoming strike follows 14 months and 23 negotiation sessions between the union and hospital.
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