Hundreds of USC Keck Nurses Preparing to Strike Thursday
Introduction to the Strike
Hundreds of unionized Keck Medicine of USC nurses will walk off the job and onto the picket lines Thursday amid contract talks. Registered nurses at Keck Hospital of USC and USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center in Lincoln Heights will walk the picket line beginning at 7 a.m. Thursday outside the Keck facility at 1500 San Pablo St. About 1,800 nurses are set to take part in the strike, which will last for 24 hours, according to the California Nurses Association/National Nurses United.
Reasons Behind the Strike
“We are the frontline nurses of Keck Medicine of USC, caring for patients from across Los Angeles and beyond — your friends, your family, your neighbors, your loved ones, ” Jeong-A Cha, a Keck USC registered nurse, said in a statement. “Every day and every night, we give our hearts, our skill, and our strength to heal our community,” Cha said. “But today, we are being asked to jeopardize the very lives we swore to protect. Keck USC nurses are working under unsafe staffing conditions that violate the most basic standards of patient care.”
The union contends that a lack of resources at Keck and Norris facilities resulted in more than 10,000 missed meal breaks and 4,000 missed rest breaks in 2024, with 4,631 missed meal breaks as of July of this year, and 2,210 missed rest breaks.
Hospital Response to the Strike
Keck Medicine officials said its facilities “will remain open and fully staffed with doctors, nurses and all other clinical professionals” during the strike, “as we continue our commitment to exceptional patient care and safety.” “We pride ourselves in consistently upholding state-required nurse staffing ratios,” Keck officials said in a statement. “Importantly, our current contract proposal includes an increase in resource staff so nurses can more properly rest and recharge during their shifts. We remain committed to negotiating in good faith and look forward to collaborative discussions with CNA to reach agreements that are fair, provide competitive pay and benefits, and reflect our dedication and support of our staff.”
Impact of the Strike
“The break relief situation is currently very dire, with nurses working up to 10 hours without a break to use the restroom or drink water,” USC Keck registered nurse Rudy Cuellar said in a statement released by the union. “Adequate staffing of resource nurses would correct this problem, but management has been unwilling to provide the adequate staffing of resource nurses that would correct this problem. As a result, they are compromising our ability to provide excellent patient care.” USC Keck and Norris nurses have been in labor talks with USC since May, according to the union. The nurses held an informational picket on July 24 and voted to authorize a strike on Aug. 22.
Conclusion
The strike by hundreds of USC Keck nurses is a significant development in the ongoing labor talks between the nurses and the hospital management. The nurses are seeking better working conditions, adequate staffing, and fair compensation. The hospital management has assured that the facilities will remain open and fully staffed during the strike, but the nurses are determined to bring attention to their concerns. The outcome of the strike remains to be seen, but it highlights the importance of addressing the concerns of healthcare workers to ensure quality patient care.
FAQs
Q: Why are the USC Keck nurses going on strike?
A: The nurses are going on strike due to unsafe staffing conditions, lack of resources, and missed breaks, which they believe compromise their ability to provide excellent patient care.
Q: How long will the strike last?
A: The strike will last for 24 hours, beginning at 7 a.m. Thursday.
Q: Will the hospital remain open during the strike?
A: Yes, the hospital has assured that its facilities will remain open and fully staffed with doctors, nurses, and other clinical professionals during the strike.
Q: What are the nurses demanding?
A: The nurses are seeking better working conditions, adequate staffing, and fair compensation.
Q: Have the nurses and hospital management been in talks?
A: Yes, the nurses and hospital management have been in labor talks since May, and the nurses have held an informational picket and voted to authorize a strike.
