Refusing to accept current working conditions, scores of California Nurses Association/National Nurses United RNs from three Los Angeles-area Providence hospitals rallied and picketed on the sidewalks of Saint John's Health Center and Little Company of Mary Torrance, with the same message directed at management: " No cuts!" As they bargain contracts at each of the facilities, nurses demand enforceable staffing language, no cuts in benefits, and enough of a raise in wages to solve Providence's chronic, and costly, crisis of recruitment and retention.

CNA currently represents Little Company of Mary San Pedro (the first within the Providence hospital system to join CNA over a decade ago, now bargaining its fifth contract), Saint John's Health Center (on their second contract), and Little Company of Mary Torrance (organized in 2013, on their first contract). Rns cite similar workplace issues at all three facilities.

Providence is cutting corners, nurses say, on staffing and safe patient lifting, creating a dangerous working environment for RNs and patients. Forty percent of the RNs employed at Saint John's in 2011 have left the hospital. Providence's cost-cutting jeopardizes the health of both patients and nurses by, as one example, reducing the number of nurses required to lift a patient. The hospital chain is also demanding cuts to its already low wages—Providence executives acknowledge that they pay below market wages and this affects their ability to attract and retain quality staff—and benefits that include paid time off, sick leave, and health and pension. The cost of replacing and training new hires costs an estimated $80,000 to $100,000 per nurse.

To show support for their sisters and brothers, San Pedro RNs drove to Mary Torrance to picket during their morning shift change. "This was the first time management has seen coordinated action by CNA RNs from all three of these hospitals on the same day," said Chris Busch, RN, a Saint John's nurse for over 30 years. "If our patient safety and Nurse retention concerns are not addressed, it won't be the last."