Nurses Seek to Restore Quality Patient Care at Pasadena’s Only Hospital

Pasadena City Councilmembers Victor Gordo and Jacque Robinson Call for a Fair and Free Election in Support of Nurses’ Efforts to Improve Patient Care

Nurses at Huntington Memorial Hospital have filed for a union election for the first time in the hospital’s 123-year history. The election date will be determined within the next few weeks. In 2014, nurses reached out to the California Nurses Association (CNA) and started organizing to gain a stronger voice for patient care and working conditions.

What: Press Conference: Nurses, Councilmembers to speak out on effort to win patient care improvements with union representation
When: Thursday, February 26, 10:00 am
Where: Huntington Memorial Hospital, Pasadena, CA – On the East sidewalk of Pasadena Avenue, across the street from Waverly Organic Farm (679 S. Pasadena, CA 91105)

“In recent years we’ve seen  the direction of nursing become increasingly based on budgets and revenue rather than patient care improvements. Huntington’s 2014 Operating Plan called for large layoffs, reductions in patients’ length of stay, and millions of dollars in cutbacks. Since we began organizing for improvements,  the hospital has hired more staff and provided some needed equipment and supplies. We want ongoing nurse input into patient care locked in a union contract—not just improvements when we become vocal. ” said Maria Aguirre, RN in the Psychiatric Unit.

Huntington nurses want stringent patient care protections in their legally binding union contract such as an independent RN-initiated and RN-controlled patient care monitoring committee with teeth through which they can advocate for changes and challenge unsafe patient care assignments without fear of retaliation. 

“We want California patient safety laws incorporated into our union contract so we can require the hospital to legally comply. We also want our pension, which was frozen two years ago to be restored, and predictable and transparent pay raises. This should improve recruitment and retention of new nurses,” said Ann Linck, retired RN from the Maternity Unit.

Nine elected federal, state, and city political leaders, along with over 500 community members have signed letters and petitions calling on Huntington to act in accordance with patient care and federal labor law. 

Pasadena City Councilmembers Victor Gordo and Jacque Robinson will speak in support of the nurses’ efforts to restore quality patient care at Huntington Hospital. They will call on Huntington administration to comply with federal labor and California healthcare laws, to immediately cease the harassment of nurses, and to engage in a fair election, free from intimidation. 

“Nurses do God’s work. We believe that by supporting them, we are building a more just society for all,” said Andrew Schwiebert, Lead Pastor at Aspire Ministry in Pasadena.