For Immediate Release                                            November 5, 2014 Contact: David Monkawa, 818-292-3568; Martha Wallner, 510-273-2264   Rally to Restore Quality Patient Care at Huntington Hospital Thursday 11a.m.—Pasadena Congresswoman Judy Chu, Pasadena City Councilmember Victor Gordo, Community Leaders Deliver Letters to Support Nurses’ Efforts to Improve Care  This Thursday registered nurses at Huntington Memorial Hospital plan a rally in an effort to restore quality patient care at HMH and to call on management to implement the highest standard of Ebola preparedness including personal protective equipment and training for healthcare workers.  Six elected representatives from federal, state, and city levels, along with over 250 community members have signed onto letters calling on HMH to act in accordance with state law by implementing safe staffing and providing sufficient supplies. They also urge hospital management  to cease violating labor rights .   Congresswoman Judy Chu, Pasadena City Councilmember Victor Gordo, and other community leaders will participate in the rally to express support for nurses’ efforts to restore quality patient care at HMH.    What: Nurses and Community Members Rally to Restore Quality Patient Care at Huntington Hospital  When: Thursday, November 6, 11:00 am Where: Huntington Memorial Hospital, Pasadena, CA – On the East sidewalk at 679 S. Pasadena, CA 91105 (across from Waverly Organic Farm)   Nurses began organizing to affiliate with the California Nurses Association (CNA) this May after a number of their efforts to engage management on patient care issues were rebuffed. Since then, some improvements have been won, but management has begun to engage in illegal activity in an attempt to thwart unionization attempts. Managers have interrogated nurses about their organizing activities and threatened loss of support staff and healthcare benefits if the union drive continues.   In an effort to demonstrate the need for patient care improvements throughout the hospital, nurses compiled an extensive Patient Care Report highlighting various patient care concerns—most notably chronic unsafe staffing practices.   "Like my colleagues, I've always been proud to work at Huntington because it has a reputation for providing quality patient care," said Ann Linck, RN, Maternity. "However, in recent years we've seen hospital management prioritize profits and make decisions that degrade the quality of care delivery."    "By raising our collective voice we've already won some improvements here at HMH, but unfortunately management is now trying to intimidate us into silence," said Allysha Almada, RN, Intensive Care. "It is our job as RNs to advocate for patient care so silence is not an option. Our patients deserve safe staffing and adequate supplies, and state law demands it. We are committed to continue organizing until quality care is restored at our hospital."   

Congresswoman Judy Chu, Pasadena City Councilmember
Victor Gordo, Community Leaders Deliver Letters
to Support Nurses’ Efforts to Improve Care 

 

This Thursday registered nurses at Huntington Memorial Hospital plan a rally in an effort to restore quality patient care at HMH and to call on management to implement the highest standard of Ebola preparedness including personal protective equipment and training for healthcare workers.

Six elected representatives from federal, state, and city levels, along with over 250 community members have signed onto letters calling on HMH to act in accordance with state law by implementing safe staffing and providing sufficient supplies. They also urge hospital management  to cease violating labor rights .

Congresswoman Judy Chu, Pasadena City Councilmember Victor Gordo, and other community leaders will participate in the rally to express support for nurses’ efforts to restore quality patient care at HMH. 

What: Nurses and Community Members Rally to Restore Quality Patient Care at Huntington Hospital 
When: Thursday, November 6, 11:00 am
Where: Huntington Memorial Hospital, Pasadena, CA – On the East sidewalk at 679 S. Pasadena, CA 91105 (across from Waverly Organic Farm)

Nurses began organizing to affiliate with the California Nurses Association (CNA) this May after a number of their efforts to engage management on patient care issues were rebuffed. Since then, some improvements have been won, but management has begun to engage in illegal activity in an attempt to thwart unionization attempts. Managers have interrogated nurses about their organizing activities and threatened loss of support staff and healthcare benefits if the union drive continues.

In an effort to demonstrate the need for patient care improvements throughout the hospital, nurses compiled an extensive Patient Care Report highlighting various patient care concerns—most notably chronic unsafe staffing practices.

"Like my colleagues, I've always been proud to work at Huntington because it has a reputation for providing quality patient care," said Ann Linck, RN, Maternity. "However, in recent years we've seen hospital management prioritize profits and make decisions that degrade the quality of care delivery." 

"By raising our collective voice we've already won some improvements here at HMH, but unfortunately management is now trying to intimidate us into silence," said Allysha Almada, RN, Intensive Care. "It is our job as RNs to advocate for patient care so silence is not an option. Our patients deserve safe staffing and adequate supplies, and state law demands it. We are committed to continue organizing until quality care is restored at our hospital."