Nurses at St. Joseph Hospital (Eureka), Queen of the Valley (Napa) and St. Mary’s (Apple Valley) recently conducted strike votes, and the result statewide was a resounding 97 percent yes vote in favor of authorizing strikes, if necessary, California Nurses Association (CNA) announced today.

No dates have yet been set for any potential strikes.

The strike votes came on the heels of St. Joseph Health’s merger with Providence Health and Services—and resulting merger celebrations last week. Nurses say they are seriously concerned about this merger being considered a reason to celebrate, when the reality, inside the hospitals is that the decision to merge falls short of defending the rights of RNs and patients.

“We hope the votes at all three hospitals, in favor of authorizing a strike if necessary, sends a clear message to management. Nurses will not stand by while understaffing makes hospitals unsafe for patients and nurses. RNs are also calling on management to withdraw draconian proposals to cut major retirement and health benefits—resulting in trouble recruiting and retaining the most experienced nurses for the community,” said CNA Co-President Melinda Markowitz, RN. “Management has failed to address these issues for too long.”

Individual strike vote results were as follows:

Queen of the Valley, Napa—95% Yes

"Queen of the Valley Nurses voted in even higher numbers to support a strike than we did in 2014,” said Marylou Bahn, RN. “With a huge turnout of voting, 95% of our Nurses voted to say yes to a strike, if necessary. Our nurse negotiation team is so appreciative of the support from our co-workers. Now we expect management to listen to the nurses and bargaining in good faith for a fair contract that provides the safe staffing and benefits we need to recruit and retain the best Nurses."

St. Joseph Hospital Eureka—99% Yes

"Our strike vote in Eureka was nearly unanimous, with overwhelming turnout and a 99 percent yes vote for a strike. The hospital needs to return to the bargaining table prepared to drop its proposal to impose severe cuts in health and retirement benefits,” said Lesley Ester, RN. “Thanks to our nurses for their vote. We look forward to winning a great contract with the language we need to care for our patients and the wages to bring the best Nurses to Eureka."
 

St. Mary’s Hospital, Apple Valley—97% Yes

“We are delighted our nurses, in massive numbers, supported their RN negotiators with a 97% strike vote,” said Lois Sanders, RN. “Now it’s time for management to be honest and transparent. We know they plan to eliminate retiree health and disability reserve while cutting pensions and other benefits. We are appalled that the new corporation, Providence St. Joseph Health, would attack their nurses with such harsh cuts that severely impact their most senior and loyal nurses.”

The merged system will eventually include some 40 hospitals operated by St. Joseph Health and Providence Health and Services, in California, Oregon, Washington, Alaska, Montana, New Mexico, and Texas.

CNA has been especially critical of the role of the St. Joseph system noting a sharp erosion of care standards, including inadequate staffing and insufficient supplies in St. Joseph hospitals, egregious violations of nurses’ rights, a weak commitment to providing essential services, and grossly inadequate levels of charity care.

“CNA will continue to fight for nurses and patients in these communities,” Markowitz said. “Striking is always a last resort for RNs, who would prefer to be at the bedside, providing care. But our nurses know that they are duty-bound to advocate for their patients. We hope that, while management is marking their merger—they can find a way to listen to the serious concerns of nurses, who will be voting whether or not to strike this week, given that a lack of protections for patients and nurses is no reason to celebrate.”