Healthcare workers sue L.A. County hospital for alleged firing over protesting safety issues

A group of healthcare workers filed a lawsuit against a Los Angeles County hospital, claiming they were fired over protesting unsafe staffing conditions.

Nine workers from St. Francis Medical Center in Lynwood are being represented by attorney Gloria Allred. The workers said they were wrongfully fired after speaking up about what they claimed were concerning practices involving patient care and other safety issues at the hospital.

A press conference was held Friday where Allred and the plaintiffs spoke about the lawsuit.

“The heart of St. Francis is the people who work there,” said Scott Byington, a plaintiff and RN who worked at the hospital. “[People] who kept coming to work during the pandemic, who slept in their cars oftentimes and then went back to work, just like me. The retaliation by Prime for fighting for our patients’ safety and community is unwarranted and unjust.”

The lawsuit names St. Francis Medical Center in the filing and Prime Healthcare which acquired the medical center in 2020.

The former employees alleged they complained to management through their unions about what they believed were unlawful employment practices that negatively impacted patients and safety.

“As healthcare providers, we are the first and at many times, the last, line of defense for our patients,” Byington said.

According to the lawsuit, medical staff were required to work double shifts due to insufficient staffing from layoffs. The allegations said the hospital accepted patients even though the nurse-to-patient ratio violated a California code of regulations.

After medical staff gathered letters of support from several elected officials and union leaders, they attempted to deliver the letters to Prime Healthcare representatives on Nov. 30, 2023, regarding their concerns.

Weeks later, however, the staff involved said they were suspended and ultimately fired.

“We are all tired of being tired,” said Mayra Castaneda, a hospital worker and plaintiff in the case. “Our patients deserve better. Our coworkers deserve better working conditions. This retaliation tactic will not stop us.”

Back in October 2023, thousands of nurses and healthcare workers began a five-day strike against St. Francis Medical Center. At the time, workers claimed the hospital was understaffed nearly every day and on every shift.

Around 600 registered nurses and 900 healthcare workers, including nursing assistants, medical assistants, emergency room technicians and respiratory therapists, were demanding adequate staffing and better wages.

Workers blamed the ongoing issues on the acquisition by Prime Healthcare. The turnover rate at the hospital was over 50% at the time, according to the United Nurses Associations of California/Union of Health Care Professionals (UNAC/UNCP).

“We all believe in patients over profits,” said attorney Gloria Allred. “We will not be deterred or intimidated by a big powerful corporation.”

St. Francis Medical Center released a statement on the suit saying:

“These employees were not terminated for raising any concerns regarding patients or patient safety, but rather for violations of Hospital policy, which were reported and fully investigated, including abusive misconduct and trespassing. St. Francis will vigorously defend the lawsuit and continue to ensure the hospital is a safe and compassionate environment for all patients and staff.”

In the statement, the hospital also disputed several of the allegations including:

• In direct response to the allegations regarding employees being required to take on extra shifts or extend their shifts, this is false. Employees elected to take extra shifts and were compensated with overtime, double-pay or crisis pay.

• Regarding accusations of understaffing, St. Francis’s commitment to workplace safety and quality of care is confirmed by the fact that despite numerous visits by CDPH, no staffing deficiencies were found.

• St. Francis remains compliant with all regulatory agencies and has had no citations or findings related to staffing and quality of care.

• St. Francis continues to support the rights of our staff to voice their opinions and currently has a current offer extended that includes wage increases of 13% over three years, with some receiving up to 35%, taking into consideration state minimum wage increases and valuable benefits.

• Similar terms of 15% increases over three years were reached with UNAC, the nurses’ union, and that contract has been ratified by the union’s members.

The full press conference held Friday can be seen here.

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