Dignity Health proposed staffing cuts in California hospitals. The union is pushing back
A group of California health care workers are pressuring Dignity Health to reverse on proposed cutbacks.
The workers are members of the Service Employees International Union, which represents frontline workers like cafeteria staff, aides, techs and environmental services workers. Lenny Rizzuto, regional director for SEIU Healthcare, said workers at hospitals across the state have received “reduction-in-force” notices over the last two months. Under the union contract, he said, the health system has to bargain over the impacts of the cutbacks, so the company and the guild will attempt to place people in other positions when possible.
The union said statewide 174 full-time equivalents have received notices.
Dozens picketed outside of Mercy General Hospital in Sacramento on Thursday. The action was preceded by rallies in Bakersfield, Northridge and San Bernardino, capping a three-day series of union protests against the hospital chain.
“The number one thing in the world is to make sure everybody stays gainfully employed,” Rizzuto said.
In a statement, the health system said it respects employees’ rights to participate in the picket, and hospital operations would not be affected by the event. Dignity did not respond to questions about the reasons for the cutbacks.
Workers said they fear the reductions will make units even more short-staffed, or cause delays to patient care.
“I believe when people come here to the hospital, they and their loved ones are often in a vulnerable and heart-wrenching time,” said Cheri Nelson, who works as a distribution tech in the materials department at Mercy General Hospital. “They deserve to be well-supported.”
Gabriel Ruiz, an aide in Mercy San Juan’s imaging department, told the Bee this week that he received a notice on Aug. 2 that his position was no longer needed.
Ruiz, a 42-year-old father of four from Rancho Cordova, brings patients from different parts of the hospital to and from the imaging department to get CT scans. He said management told him radiology techs would be asked to transport patients, in addition to their other responsibilities. Ruiz was told administrators would work with him to place him in another position.
Ruiz said he is still on his department’s work schedule, and he hasn’t received any official end date. The union, he said, is trying to convey to management that he and his coworkers are vital to the hospital.
Ruiz said he doesn’t want to start over with a new employer, away from his longtime coworkers, and starting over with seniority. Plus, his daughter was born at Mercy San Juan. His son was born at Mercy General.
“I’m still a department aide, I still show up to radiology. But I can’t really tell you when that will come to an end, or will it come to an end,” Ruiz said. “We’re definitely doing our best and working with our union to fight for our jobs. But also, I’m not naive. I know we can’t fight forever, and there will have to be a resolution somewhere.”
