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Don't Get Sick in US November 12 - Nurses on Strike

posted by n1 on Wednesday November 12 2014, @08:41PM   
from the safety-first dept.

gewg_ writes with an article from Common Dreams:

Registered nurses from California to Maine will hold strikes, picketing, and other actions Wednesday, November 12 in 16 U.S. states and the District of Columbia--with possible support actions globally--as National Nurses United, the largest U.S. organization of nurses steps up the demand for tougher Ebola safety precautions in the nation’s hospitals.

One centerpiece of the actions will be a two-day strike by 18,000 RNs and nurse practitioners at 86 Kaiser Permanente hospitals and clinics who have been protesting the erosion of patient care standards in Kaiser facilities for months, and see Kaiser’s failure to adopt the optimal safeguards for Ebola as symbolic of its overall dismissal of nurses’ concerns about patient care.

Strikes will also affect 400 RNs at Providence Hospital in Washington D.C. on Wednesday and some 600 RNs Tuesday and Wednesday at two other Northern California hospitals, Sutter Tracy and Watsonville General Hospital.

Among other prominent national actions will be a vigil outside the White House Wednesday, rallies at state capitols in Michigan and Minnesota, several actions in Chicago, and a rally at the federal building in New York City.

• Kaiser is still open (Score: 2) by Magic Oddball on Thursday November 13 2014, @01:33AM

  by Magic Oddball (3847) on Thursday November 13 2014, @01:33AM (#115379) Journal

  As a Kaiser member for the last 24 years, I had to laugh at the idea that the nurses have complained for "months" about the low patient-care quality — they've (rightly) been upset about it for decades, tracing back to the era when Kaiser was well-known for its high rate of mistakes that ended in patients being seriously harmed (like losing limbs) or dying.

  Anyway, I got this from Kaiser the other day:

  Subject: Important message from Kaiser Permanente
  From: Kaiser Permanente
  Date: 11/07/2014 2:49pm

  [Kaiser "three people and a nuclear bomb" logo]
  Your well-being is our top priority
  Kaiser Permanente facilities in Northern California will be open during the nurses' strike scheduled for 7:00 a.m. November 11 through 6:59 a.m. November 13
  We have been notified that the California Nurses Association (CNA), which is in contract negotiations with Kaiser Permanente, is conducting a two-day strike that will begin at 7 a.m. on Tuesday, November 11, 2014, and end at 6:59 a.m. on Thursday, November 13, 2014.

  As always, our first priority is the safety and care of our members and patients. We've taken steps to make sure you continue to receive high-quality care and service from our team of experienced doctors and other clinicians.

  Kaiser Permanente medical centers will remain open during the strike, including our hospitals, Emergency Departments, Urgent Care Departments, primary and specialty care departments, pharmacies, and laboratories.

  Please know that some elective procedures and appointments scheduled for Tuesday, November 11, and Wednesday, November 12, 2014 may be rescheduled due to the strike. Those patients who are affected will be personally contacted prior to the event by an appointment team member.

  At Kaiser Permanente, we have a long and proud history of working with labor, and we have been bargaining with CNA in good faith to reach a fair and equitable agreement as soon as possible.

  We apologize for any inconvenience this strike may cause and appreciate your understanding as our discussions with the nurses' union continue.

  Starting Score:	1		point
  Karma-Bonus Modifier		+1
  Total Score:		2