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Workers at Woodward MPC Outside Chicago Vote Overwhelmingly to Authorize Strike, Announce Practice Picket
DETROIT, Michigan, June 26 [Category: Union] -- The United Automobile Workers posted the following news:
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Workers at Woodward MPC Outside Chicago Vote Overwhelmingly to Authorize Strike, Announce Practice Picket
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Over 800 members of UAW Local 5101, representing workers at Woodward MPC, have voted by 71% to authorize a strike after months of company stall tactics and unfair labor practices during contract negotiations.
Woodward workers voted to affiliate with the UAW last fall. Since then, the company has committed over three dozen unfair labor practices, including total refusal to negotiate
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DETROIT, Michigan, June 26 [Category: Union] -- The United Automobile Workers posted the following news:
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Workers at Woodward MPC Outside Chicago Vote Overwhelmingly to Authorize Strike, Announce Practice Picket
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Over 800 members of UAW Local 5101, representing workers at Woodward MPC, have voted by 71% to authorize a strike after months of company stall tactics and unfair labor practices during contract negotiations.
Woodward workers voted to affiliate with the UAW last fall. Since then, the company has committed over three dozen unfair labor practices, including total refusal to negotiatewith the union. Workers are fighting for industry-leading wages, fair progression, time off, and job security.
On Tuesday, June 30, at 3:15pm, members will hold a practice picket outside the facility, located at 6300 W Howard St, Niles, Illinois with community allies and elected officials. Press are invited to attend.
"UAW members at Woodward have sent a clear message to the company," said UAW President Shawn Fain. "Stop with the illegal delay tactics, bargain a fair agreement, or we're ready to strike. Management has a choice to make: negotiate a contract, or face a strike."
"Woodward needs to get serious about reaching a fair deal with the nearly 900 workers who make this company run," said UAW Region 4 Director Brandon Campbell. "Local 5101 is done waiting for the company to do the right thing, and Region 4 has their backs."
"Our membership can't wait another 9 months for a fair contract," said UAW Local 5101 President Jose Tapia. "Now is our time at Woodward MPC, and we are ready to do whatever it takes to win our fair share."
The workers at Woodward build commercial and military aviation equipment for Woodward's customers, including the U.S. Government, Boeing, and more.
Woodward has made over $1.7 billion in profits since 2020, and has paid its CEO over $30 million in that timeframe, while workers struggle to make ends meet. The more than 800 workers are members of UAW Local 5101.
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Original text here: https://uaw.org/workers-at-woodward-mpc-outside-chicago-vote-overwhelmingly-to-authorize-strike-announce-practice-picket/
Workers at Mt. View Funeral Home Join Teamsters
WASHINGTON, June 26 [Category: Union] -- The International Brotherhood of Teamsters posted the following news release:
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Workers at Mt. View Funeral Home Join Teamsters
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Press Contact: Paul Zilly Phone: (206) 794-6673 Email: paul.zilly@teamsters117.org
TUKWILA, Wash. - A group of 11 workers at Mt. View Funeral Home have voted overwhelmingly to join Teamsters Local 117. The staff associates will join an existing bargaining unit of 17 cemetery workers, embalmers, and funeral directors already represented by the Teamsters.
After speaking with their co-workers about the benefits of unionization,
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WASHINGTON, June 26 [Category: Union] -- The International Brotherhood of Teamsters posted the following news release:
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Workers at Mt. View Funeral Home Join Teamsters
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Press Contact: Paul Zilly Phone: (206) 794-6673 Email: paul.zilly@teamsters117.org
TUKWILA, Wash. - A group of 11 workers at Mt. View Funeral Home have voted overwhelmingly to join Teamsters Local 117. The staff associates will join an existing bargaining unit of 17 cemetery workers, embalmers, and funeral directors already represented by the Teamsters.
After speaking with their co-workers about the benefits of unionization,the staff associates reached out to Teamsters representatives to discuss how to improve workplace safety, secure equitable wages, and win respect on the job.
"We are thrilled to welcome another group of workers at Mt. View to the union," said Paul Dascher, Secretary-Treasurer of Local 117. "These workers provide care, compassion, and support to families when they need it most -after the loss of a loved one. They deserve a strong Teamsters contract with fair pay, good benefits, and provisions that protect their safety and well-being."
Staff associates at Mt. View are responsible for transporting deceased individuals to the funeral facility. They offer support to family members of the deceased at multiple locations during the grieving process -prior to transportation, at the funeral home, and at memorial services.
"We wanted to join the Teamsters because we didn't feel confident that upper management cared about our safety," said Leia Allen, a staff associate at Mt. View Funeral Home. "People have been hurt and pressured to return to work before they are fully healed. Our needs and requests have been repeatedly ignored, forgotten, and dismissed. But not anymore."
Teamsters Local 117 represents 19,000 workers throughout Washington State across many industries in both the public and private sectors. For more information, visit teamsters117.org.
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Original text here: https://teamster.org/2026/06/workers-at-mt-view-funeral-home-join-teamsters/
Wichita nurses to hold one-day strike for patient and staff safety
SILVER SPRING, Maryland, June 26 [Category: Union] -- National Nurses United issued the following news release:
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Wichita nurses to hold one-day strike for patient and staff safety
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Nurses at Ascension Via Christi St. Francis and St. Joseph hospitals in Wichita, Kan., will hold a one-day strike on July 6 to protest the administration's refusal to address RNs' well-documented concerns about patient safety and workplace violence protection as part of contract negotiations, concerns that have been borne out by a fatal shooting at St. Joseph just this week, announced National Nurses Organizing
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SILVER SPRING, Maryland, June 26 [Category: Union] -- National Nurses United issued the following news release:
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Wichita nurses to hold one-day strike for patient and staff safety
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Nurses at Ascension Via Christi St. Francis and St. Joseph hospitals in Wichita, Kan., will hold a one-day strike on July 6 to protest the administration's refusal to address RNs' well-documented concerns about patient safety and workplace violence protection as part of contract negotiations, concerns that have been borne out by a fatal shooting at St. Joseph just this week, announced National Nurses OrganizingCommittee/National Nurses United (NNOC/NNU) today.
Nurses have experienced increasing incidents of workplace violence against staff and far too many threats against both patients and staff. Recent incidents include a grenade found on Easter, and this week, on June 21, a tragic suicide by firearm discharged at the St. Joseph emergency department. Throughout negotiations, RNs have asked that Ascension take the nurses' demands for workplace violence protections seriously and implement commonsense measures to protect staff and patients.
"We have been sounding the alarm and calling for weapons detection systems for years, but the administration has refused to listen," said Carol Samsel, RN in the critical care unit at St. Joseph. "What happened at our ED this week was a tragedy."
Who: Registered nurses at Ascension Via Christi St. Francis and St. Joseph hospitals
What: One-day strike for patient and staff safety as part of a fair contract
When: Monday, July 6, 7 a.m. to Tuesday, July 7, 6:59 a.m.
Where: St. Francis Hospital, 929 N. St. Francis St., NE corner of Murdock and St. Francis
St. Joseph Hospital, 3600 E. Harry St., NE corner of Harry and Clifton
This strike notice follows a nearly unanimous strike authorization vote on June 23 at both hospitals. Nurses have given 10-days' advance notice to hospital management to ensure adequate plans are made for patient care during the one-day strike.
St. Francis and St. Joseph nurses have been in negotiations since March 2026 for a new contract with little to no movement on key issues around safe staffing and protections. The RNs urge management to invest in nursing staff and agree to enforceable contract language that provides:
* Workplace violence protection measures
* Safe staffing
* Retention of experienced RNs
"Nurses and other health care workers should not feel scared to come to work at our hospitals," said Shelly Rader, RN in the emergency department at St. Francis. "Our hospitals should be places of refuge and healing for our patients."
"We call upon Ascension to do the right thing and provide for the safety of patients and staff before another tragedy strikes," said Marvin Ruckle, an RN in the neonatal intensive care unit at St. Joseph.
RNs at Ascension Via Christi St. Francis and St. Joseph unionized in 2022 and 2023, and won a historic first contract in 2024. RNs held an informational picket at St. Francis on May 1, 2026, as part of ongoing negotiations.
NNOC/NNU represents nearly 1,200 nurses at Ascension Via Christi St. Francis and St. Joseph.
National Nurses United is the largest and fastest-growing union and professional association of registered nurses in the United States with more than 225,000 members nationwide. NNU affiliates include California Nurses Association/National Nurses Organizing Committee, DC Nurses Association, Michigan Nurses Association, Minnesota Nurses Association, and New York State Nurses Association.
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Original text here: https://www.nationalnursesunited.org/press/wichita-nurses-to-hold-one-day-strike-for-patient-and-staff-safety
Teamsters Forced On Strike at Open Kitchens
WASHINGTON, June 26 [Category: Union] -- The International Brotherhood of Teamsters posted the following news release:
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Teamsters Forced On Strike at Open Kitchens
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Press Contact: Maura Drumm Phone: (215) 510-3735 Email: MDrumm@teamster.org
CHICAGO - Drivers and helpers at Open Kitchens in Chicago have been forced to strike over the company's unfair labor practices. The workers, represented by Teamsters Local 703, are fighting for a first contract.
"Our members at Open Kitchens are demanding the company end its illegal labor practices and negotiate a fair first contract," said Thomas
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WASHINGTON, June 26 [Category: Union] -- The International Brotherhood of Teamsters posted the following news release:
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Teamsters Forced On Strike at Open Kitchens
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Press Contact: Maura Drumm Phone: (215) 510-3735 Email: MDrumm@teamster.org
CHICAGO - Drivers and helpers at Open Kitchens in Chicago have been forced to strike over the company's unfair labor practices. The workers, represented by Teamsters Local 703, are fighting for a first contract.
"Our members at Open Kitchens are demanding the company end its illegal labor practices and negotiate a fair first contract," said ThomasW. Stiede, Secretary-Treasurer of Local 703. "Management's reckless and unlawful conduct has left these workers with no choice but to strike. It is time for the company to stop breaking the law and get serious at the bargaining table."
Teamsters at Open Kitchens deliver meals to Chicago Public Schools and other customers throughout the Chicagoland area. Workers voted to join the Teamsters last year, but the company has continued to intimidate workers and drag out negotiations instead of reaching a collective bargaining agreement.
"We come to work every day to do our jobs and provide for our families, but management has treated us with disrespect and constant threats to our livelihoods," said Ernesto Patino, a helper at Open Kitchens and a member of Local 703. "As Teamsters, we are not backing down from this fight until we win the dignity only a union contract can provide."
Local 703 has filed multiple unfair labor practice charges against Open Kitchens with the National Labor Relations Board, alleging the company illegally terminated workers in retaliation for protected union activity. Those unlawful terminations, coupled with the company's continued efforts to delay reaching a first contract, forced these workers onto the picket line.
"Open Kitchens thought they could violate federal labor law and stall these negotiations until our members gave up," said Tom Erickson, Director of the Teamsters Warehouse Division. "They made a serious miscalculation. The Teamsters have the strength and the resolve to win this fight."
Founded in 1903, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters represents 1.3 million hardworking people in the U.S., Canada, and Puerto Rico.
Visit Teamster.org for more information. Follow us on X @Teamsters and on Facebook at Facebook.com/teamsters.
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Original text here: https://teamster.org/2026/06/teamsters-forced-on-strike-at-open-kitchens/
Registered nurses at Dominican Hospital to protest proposed staffing cuts that jeopardize patient safety
SILVER SPRING, Maryland, June 26 [Category: Union] -- National Nurses United issued the following news release:
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Registered nurses at Dominican Hospital to protest proposed staffing cuts that jeopardize patient safety
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Registered nurses at Dominican Hospital in Santa Cruz, Calif., will hold an informational picket on Tuesday, June 30, to alert the community about CommonSpirit Health's (CommonSpirit) proposed staffing cuts that jeopardize patient safety and undermine quality care, announced the California Nurses Association/National Nurses United (CNA/NNU).
On June 1, CommonSpirit sent
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SILVER SPRING, Maryland, June 26 [Category: Union] -- National Nurses United issued the following news release:
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Registered nurses at Dominican Hospital to protest proposed staffing cuts that jeopardize patient safety
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Registered nurses at Dominican Hospital in Santa Cruz, Calif., will hold an informational picket on Tuesday, June 30, to alert the community about CommonSpirit Health's (CommonSpirit) proposed staffing cuts that jeopardize patient safety and undermine quality care, announced the California Nurses Association/National Nurses United (CNA/NNU).
On June 1, CommonSpirit sentout layoff notices to more than 20 nurses and staff members across the hospital. The proposed layoffs include:
* Five out of six members of the nurse educators who ensure staff maintain clinical competencies, provide ongoing training to all nurses, and assist in overseeing and providing safe, evidence-based care.
* Nine unit coordinators who manage communication, patient flow, and essential administrative functions across the hospital. These coordinators handle calls from patient families and other duties to allow nurses to remain at the bedside.
* Eight monitor technicians whose essential role is to continuously observe cardiac telemetry and often identify life-threatening changes requiring immediate intervention.
Nurses say these proposed cuts would increase the risk of communication failures, delays in care, preventable errors, and poorer patient outcomes.
"We who work at Dominican hospital are devoted to ensuring the highest quality of care for our Santa Cruz County community, said Erin Johsnon, RN in the interventional radiology unit. "Unfortunately, it appears the decision-makers at CommonSpirit care much more about the bottom line than the patients they serve, and their actions are a clear indication of that. We are calling on CommonSpirit to rescind the layoff notices of our valuable staff members and work with us to create an optimal healing environment for our patients."
What: Informational picket to demand no cuts and safe staffing
When: Tuesday, June 30, 1-5 p.m.
Where: Dominican Hospital, 1555 Soquel Drive, Santa Cruz, CA 95065
Patients have already experienced the effects of chronic understaffing, including emergency department wait times of up to five hours and delays in transfers to higher-acuity units such as telemetry and ICU. Nurses are frequently asked to care for patients with increasingly complex needs without adequate staffing support. Nurses say over the last year, they've been forced to take on the role of patient care technicians who provide one-on-one supervision for the most vulnerable patients. These additional duties make it harder for nurses to provide optimal care to every patient.
"Dominican Hospital has continuously failed to adequately staff our units while asking nurses to do more with less," said Crystal Crafton, RN, chief nurse representative. "These cuts place additional burdens on frontline caregivers and remove critical support systems that help keep patients safe. Short staffing is not safe for our patients and is unfair to our nurses, and is harmful to our community. Administration must stop these cuts and invest in safe patient care."
Nurses have offered solutions to address staffing challenges and improve efficiency, yet the hospital has failed to adequately respond to these recommendations.
According to federally collected statistics, over the last 10 years, we have seen a decline in the number of nursing hours devoted to each patient at Dominican Hospital. In addition, the emergency department has seen a 29 percent increase in the number of life-threatening cases since 2014. Yet, we have not seen an increase in staffing to appropriately address the high level of care each of these patients need.
Nurses know that CommonSpirit has the resources to address the hospital's needs. According to its tax filings, from 2020-2024 the top 10 CommonSpirit executives were paid in excess of $310.5 million. Its CEO took home a compensation package worth more than $14 million for fiscal year 2025.
CNA/NNU represents 700 registered nurses at Dominican Hospital. NNOC/NNU (including CNA) represents more than 17,000 CommonSpirit Health nurses at 33 facilities across the country.
California Nurses Association/National Nurses United is the largest and fastest-growing union and professional association of registered nurses in the nation with more than 100,000 members in more than 200 facilities throughout California and more than 225,000 RNs nationwide.
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Original text here: https://www.nationalnursesunited.org/press/registered-nurses-at-dominican-hospital-to-protest-proposed-staffing-cuts
Mutual Benefit Association representative training
WASHINGTON, June 26 [Category: Union] -- The AFL-CIO National Association of Letter Carriers issued the following news:
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Mutual Benefit Association representative training
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NALC Director of Life Insurance Jim Yates has announced an MBA representative training to be held on Sunday, Aug, 23. This is the second in the 2026 series of training sessions, and will be focused on the MBA's Life Insurance products. The third in the 2026 series will be Retirement Savings Plans.
Branch presidents may begin registering their MBA representative for the training through the branch president's Members
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, June 26 [Category: Union] -- The AFL-CIO National Association of Letter Carriers issued the following news:
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Mutual Benefit Association representative training
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NALC Director of Life Insurance Jim Yates has announced an MBA representative training to be held on Sunday, Aug, 23. This is the second in the 2026 series of training sessions, and will be focused on the MBA's Life Insurance products. The third in the 2026 series will be Retirement Savings Plans.
Branch presidents may begin registering their MBA representative for the training through the branch president's MembersOnly page. Each branch may register up to three people. The registration directions are below.
The class will begin at 2 p.m. Eastern time and is scheduled to be one and a half hours long, but usually finishes earlier.
NALC has developed the ability to create a registration and training gateway through the Members Only portal on the NALC website.
Registration
Once a meeting has been scheduled through the Members Only portal, branch presidents will need to register their members in order for them to attend. To access the registration option, branch presidents can go to the NALC website and log into the Members Only portal. Once logged in, choose the "Meetings Menu" from the menu on the left-hand side of the page and then select the "Meeting Registration by Officers" option. This will display a list of upcoming meetings. From there, presidents can register a member(s) by entering their last name in the "Search" box and selecting the correct member from the drop-down list. A member can also be removed from the "Registry" list by checking the box under the "Delete" column next to the corresponding member. Branch presidents will not be able to register more than the maximum number of attendees per branch or exceed the maximum number of attendees for that session. The maximum number of registrants per branch and for the session, as well as the registered-to-date counts, are displayed on the registration screen.
Training materials
Training materials and other pertinent information may be supplied for each session in the form of PDFs. These documents will be available to registrants on their Members Only page. The documents can be printed, copied and/or saved.
Accessing meeting information and/or joining the meeting
When a registered member wants to access training materials, view topics or join a meeting, they can go to the NALC website and log into the Members Only portal. Once logged into the portal, the member will choose the "Meetings Menu" from the menu at the left-hand side of the page and select the "Join a Meeting" option, which will display a list of those meetings the member is registered to attend. For each meeting, there will be three buttons: The "Documents" button will give the member access to the training materials; the "Topics" button will give the member access to a list of topics (if any); and the "Join" button will allow the member access to attend the training. The "Join" button will appear 10 minutes prior to the start time on the day of the meeting. If you log into the Members Only portal sooner than 10 minutes prior to the start of the meeting, you will need to exit to the home page and re-enter to access the "Join" button. Once you select the button, you will be taken to a Webex window titled "Starting your meeting..." Scroll down to select "Join from your browser." When joining, the member will be prompted to enter their name and email address to attend the meeting. Proceed by selecting the "next" button followed by the "Join Meeting" button.
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Original text here: https://www.nalc.org/news/nalc-updates/mutual-benefit-association-representative-training-08-23
Los Angeles nurses to hold an informational picket for patient safety and protest imminent closure of pediatric unit
SILVER SPRING, Maryland, June 26 [Category: Union] -- National Nurses United issued the following news release:
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Los Angeles nurses to hold an informational picket for patient safety and protest imminent closure of pediatric unit
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Registered nurses at California Hospital Medical Center (CHMC) in Los Angeles, Calif., will hold an informational picket on Monday, June 29, to protest the administration's decision to lay off essential unit support staff throughout the facility and to close the pediatric unit, announced California Nurses Association/National Nurses United (CNA/NNU). Management
... Show Full Article
SILVER SPRING, Maryland, June 26 [Category: Union] -- National Nurses United issued the following news release:
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Los Angeles nurses to hold an informational picket for patient safety and protest imminent closure of pediatric unit
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Registered nurses at California Hospital Medical Center (CHMC) in Los Angeles, Calif., will hold an informational picket on Monday, June 29, to protest the administration's decision to lay off essential unit support staff throughout the facility and to close the pediatric unit, announced California Nurses Association/National Nurses United (CNA/NNU). Managementhas repeatedly failed to address nurses' ongoing concerns about the impact of diminishing resources on patient care and safety, including unsafe staffing, lack of ancillary staff, increased workplace violence, and lack of proper break relief.
On June 1, management announced a mass reduction of 82 employees, including all nurses in the pediatric unit, all unit secretaries in the hospital, and other health care staff. The pediatric unit is scheduled to close on August 31, 2026. They notified their employer on June 18, 2026, that they would hold an informational picket.
"It is unbelievable CHMC has decided to close the pediatric unit," said Laura Topete, RN in the postpartum unit at CHMC. "What will happen to our babies who need additional care after birth? Our patient population is limited, and the pediatric department helps keep moms and babies together. What will happen to these families when this unit closes?"
Who: Registered nurses at California Hospital Medical Center
What: Informational picket for Pediatric Unit closure, layoffs and patient safety
When: Monday, June 29, 6-9:30 a.m.
Where: California Hospital Medical Center, 1401 S. Grand Ave., Los Angeles Calif., main entrance
Nurses have filed numerous assignment despite objection forms to report unsafe staffing and missed breaks. Nurses say CHMC management has failed to ensure a safe workplace by telling RNs to simply do more with less. CHMC management has also invested in virtual monitoring services in place of certified nursing assistants, shifting care models to save money instead of investing in safe staffing.
"Nurses on the floor are already strained," said Esmeralda Noriega, RN in the medical-surgical unit at CHMC. "What is going to happen when they lay off our unit secretaries and aides? The ability of our nurses to focus on the care needs of our patients will diminish, and our patients will suffer as a result. It is just not right."
"Leadership cannot ignore unsafe staffing and impossible demands on nurses," said Gwladys Minko-Ashcraft, RN in the telemetry unit at CHMC. "Our nurses are expected to take care of patients, educate family, complete charting, and medication pass on time without having overtime and without missing breaks. This is just not possible when our resources are nonexistent, and we do not have unit aides or break coverage. Our nurses are getting sick and experiencing moral distress, but CHMC doesn't want to hear this."
CNA represents 815 nurses at California Hospital Medical Center, CHMC is part of CommonSpirit Health, where CNA/NNOC represents more than 17,000 nurses at 33 facilities across the country. Common Spirit has issued layoff notices to nurses and support staff at several facilities throughout California.
California Nurses Association/National Nurses United is the largest and fastest-growing union and professional association of registered nurses in the nation with more than 100,000 members in more than 200 facilities throughout California and more than 225,000 RNs nationwide.
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Original text here: https://www.nationalnursesunited.org/press/los-angeles-nurses-to-hold-an-informational-picket-for-patient-safety