From your Bargaining Team...

Why did we call a ULP strike? Our Bargaining Team has been at the table with hospital management since July (except for the month of August, when they walked away, and earlier in the year for licensed professionals). We proposed crucial language to address pandemic safety issues during this unprecedented time. During nearly all that time, the hospitals not only refused to engage in any meaningful dialogue and rejected our proposals to address many of our concerns around PPE, unsafe working conditions and lack of staffing, but they said that they can’t possibly plan ahead for every type of public health emergency and can only commit to following CDC guidelines for any future pandemic. HCA accuses us of “using” the pandemic. Really? That’s what they call our desperate insistence to improve safety measures and staffing to help us provide safe patient care?

During the COVID-19 pandemic, hospital safety has only gotten worse. Nurse burnout is at an all-time high. Due to lack of PPE and safe staffing levels, we have an extremely high rate of infected Nurses and other staff members. In addition, during this time, the employer has engaged in regressive bargaining and other unfair labor practices. We have the legal right to strike in protest of these unfair labor practices.

Do I have to Strike? An overwhelming majority of your colleagues voted to authorize a ULP strike. To show our unity with our Bargaining Team, the expectation is you will honor the picket line, not come to work and join the picket line (masked and socially distancing) at least on all days that you would have been scheduled to work.

Can my manager ask me if I’m planning to strike? Your manager might, and likely will, ask. To show our unity, you can let them know that you plan to stand with your co-workers. However, you aren’t obligated to tell them. You could simply say, “Our Union has advised members that we have the legal right to keep our strike plans private.” Management does not have the right, however, to ask in a hostile or coercive manner, and must assure RNs that there will not be retaliation for participation in the strike.

Are 90-day probationary RNs expected to strike? Federal law protects all striking workers, including probationary employees. However, because probationary employees can be let go with no explanation required, probationary employees must make the decision about whether or not to join the ULP strike. You cannot be terminated for striking, as that would be illegal, but this is an individual decision that should be based on whether you believe the employer will respect your legal right to strike.

Will my patients be safe and taken care of if I strike? The law requires that we give the hospital 10 days’ notice before we strike. This will give the hospital ample time to hire temporary RNs and Licensed Healthcare Professionals. Our patients will be cared for by fully licensed staff.

Will I be covered by my health insurance during the strike? Our health insurance premium is paid at the beginning of the month and remains in effect all month.

Can we be locked out? The hospital can have a lock-out. However, they can’t lock us out in retaliation for going on strike. That would be illegal. And they can’t replace us for striking in protest of their unfair labor practices.

Can my vacation be canceled if there is a strike? No, your vacation cannot be canceled—if canceled, it can be considered an act of retaliation and discrimination.

Can I cash out stock while I’m on strike? Management cannot withhold a benefit, such as this, on the basis of a ULP strike, so if cash-out would be available, and the only reason it’s not made available is because of the strike, that would be discrimination/retaliation, which is illegal.

Do I need to call the nursing office on days we’re on strike? No. As a healthcare facility, our Union is required by law to give 10 days’ notice of when we will go on strike to the hospital and to tell the hospital when we will return. We, as a Union, will take care of this notice on behalf of our members.

Will night shift workers be walking the picket line at night? Due to safety concerns, night shift workers will not picket at night. Night shift workers will, however, be expected to be on the picket line during daytime hours. We will be signing people up for picketing times.

Questions? Speak with a Bargaining Team Member, Union Steward or your Union Rep/Organizer: LOS ROBLES—Carolynne Roderick, (626) 429-5055, komatac@seiu121rn.org RIVERSIDE—Jose Alatorre, (626) 318-5306, alatorrej@seiu121rn.org WEST HILLS—Shamora Freeman, (626) 841-6431, freemans@seiu121rn.org