5-day strike canceled for Desert Regional, JFK, Hi-Desert workers; negotiations continue
An anticipated five-day strike at 11 Tenet Healthcare facilities throughout California, including three desert locations, has been canceled, according to a local union representative.
SEIU (Service Employees International Union)-United Healthcare Workers West members at 11 out of 12 Tenet hospitals voted by a margin of 97% in favor of a strike in response to what they allege are unfair labor practices committed by Tenet. The strike was scheduled for Oct. 23 through 27 following months of negotiations at the bargaining table. The union's contract expired on June 30.
Jason Brooks, a CNA and chief union steward at JFK Memorial in Indio, said a required 10-day strike notice was pulled, but he did not provide explanation as to why the planned action was canceled.
A new contact still has not been reached between the union and company. SEIU-UHW West said in a statement, "These frontline healthcare workers are dedicated to securing a union contract with the improvements they feel are needed to continue to provide high quality care in their hospitals."
Approximately 3,900 Tenet employees are members of SEIU-UHW West and work as licensed vocational nurses, certified nursing assistants, medical assistants, emergency room, radiology and respiratory techs, among others. In the Coachella Valley and surrounding area, 1,222 union members work at Desert Regional Medical Center in Palm Springs, JFK Memorial Hospital and Hi-Desert Medical Center in Joshua Tree.
There is a bargaining meeting taking place Thursday, and Brooks said the union is "hopeful" additional dates will be provided.
The union is pushing for increased wages and hiring additional staff members to address alleged unsafe staffing and patient conditions. In July, SEIU-UHW West members held pickets outside of the three local hospitals to bring attention to staffing shortages.
Tenet Healthcare said in a statement: "We continue to bargain in good faith in hopes of reaching an agreement on a contract with the union."
Brooks encourages residents to continue showing their support to health care workers.
"We need the communities to help their local facilities by using social media platforms to share their stories and demonstrate to the management at Tenet how their experiences could have been different or improved if they had better staffing to provide each of them and their loved ones with better patient care, which they deserve," Brooks said. "Their voices will have the most impact on leadership at Tenet to make the necessary changes to improve the care we provide to our patients."
Earlier this month, tens of thousands of Kaiser Permanente workers went on a three-day strike. A week later, a tentative agreement was reached between the company and labor unions.
Ema Sasic covers entertainment and health in the Coachella Valley. Reach her at ema.sasic@desertsun.com or on Twitter @ema_sasic.
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: 5-day strike canceled for Desert Regional, JFK, Hi-Desert hospitals
