The nurses say that they face chronic unsafe staffing due to high turnover that has reached crisis proportions. In addition to turnover, nurses point to substandard equipment and inadequate workplace hazard policies as factors contributing to decreased morale.

Nurses point to the fact that current security practices are inadequate to prevent the flow of weapons into the hospital. Nurses are required to search patients’ belongings and confiscate weapons, which nurses say puts them at undue risk and distracts from patient care.

The community, including other union members and public officials from across LA, rallied in support of the nurses and joined them on the festive picket line.

View media coverage of the strike here.