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Members of the National Union of Healthcare Workers (NUHW) planned a candlelight vigil for 8:15 p.m. Wednesday evening at Kaiser L.A. Medical Center on Sunset Blvd (map).The vigil is the latest NUHW-led effort to urge Kaiser to bargain in good faith toward a fair contract that minimizes risks to patient care. Kaiser has failed to listen to the bargaining committee's proposals, according to the RNs.
The union recently authorized a one-day walkout to be conducted later this month with about 2,300 psychologists, social workers, registered nurses and other healthcare professionals at Kaiser hospitals and clinics all over Southern California, according to a spokesperson.
In March, about 1,000 NUHW members walked out at Kaiser LAMC, citing unfair labor practices and inadequate staffing regulations.
Nurses at dozens of hospitals nationwide have gone on strike in recent months, most arguing that hospital corporations are putting profits ahead of patient safety, according to Healthcare Finance News. A five-day strike is scheduled for later this month at Children's Hospital in Oakland after bargaining talks were cancelled by hospital officials. Kaiser Permanente netted $2 billion in profits in 2010.
