Support Barton Nurses
Barton Memorial Hospital nurses care for all of our patients like family because the South Lake Tahoe community feels like one big family: We all know one another, we nurses live right in the community and often get treatment at Barton, and many of our patients are relatives, neighbors, classmates, and friends.
Because we always want to provide the best care possible for our South Lake Tahoe family, Barton nurses overwhelmingly voted to form a union almost three years ago to better advocate for ourselves and our patients. Nurses stick around when they are listened to and respected by hospital administration, can do their jobs safely, and are treated and compensated fairly. Unfortunately, the pursuit of the bottom line at Barton prevents us from doing our jobs safely and drives nurses away. We unionized so that we could, together, better our hospital for the good of our South Lake Tahoe community.
Collectively, we union nurses have already made many improvements at Barton. But Wendy David and the Barton board of directors have completely dragged their feet on formalizing our agreement and signing a fair first contract with Barton nurses. They hope that by stalling, they can break our spirit and resolve to work as strong union nurses. They could not be more wrong.
Barton nurses are determined to keep saving South Lake Tahoe lives, during Covid-19 and beyond. Every day, every shift, we strive to help our community, and right now we in turn need our community’s help.
Please help Barton nurses keep Lake Tahoe safe by signing this open letter to Barton management. Tell Wendy David and the Barton board to respect nurses, protect patients.