150 Hospital Workers Launch 4-Day Strike

About 150 health-care employees who contend understaffing is harming patient care at Queen of Angels-Hollywood Presbyterian Medical Center launched a four-day strike Friday.

Nurses, lab technicians, respiratory therapists and other employees chanted and picketed in front of the hospital on Vermont Avenue. Administrators brought in about 150 outside workers to maintain staffing levels during the strike.

Service Employees International Union’s Local 399 planned the walkout after its members voted Thursday to reject the hospital’s most recent contract offer, which included an 11% raise over two years and more subsidies for health benefits. The union’s last contract expired May 13.

Although union leaders said about 1,000 workers would join the walkout during the next three days, hospital officials said only 22% of the hospital’s 1,200 employees belong to the union.

Union members said higher wages are needed to make the 434-bed hospital competitive with other area hospitals to attract and retain enough staff members. They also want bonuses and the establishment of a patient-care committee of employees and administrators to make decisions about staff-patient ratios.

Administrators said that Queen of Angels feels the effects of a statewide nursing shortage, but that patients are properly cared for because other personnel always fill in when needed.

“It’s unfortunate that anyone would try to imply that improving patient care isn’t our main focus,” said Julie Jatico, director of the hospital’s emergency room.

Strikers plan to return to work Tuesday morning.

They said they will consider another walkout if the hospital does not resume talks.

“We think it’s unethical for health-care workers to strike, but at this point we feel we have no choice,” said Blake Lindgren, 47, a union negotiator and intensive care nurse who was on the picket line Friday. “It’s in our heart to care for our patients, and striking is our way of standing up for quality patient care.”

Hospital officials said the proposed contract is fair.

“We wouldn’t offer the workers anything less than we offer ourselves,” Jatico said.

Striking workers said staff morale dropped after Tenet Healthcare Corp., the country’s second-largest commercial hospital chain, bought Queen of Angels in 1998.

Community leaders and elected officials, including Los Angeles City Councilman Eric Garcetti, walked with the workers and spoke about their grievances.

“We are going to fight with you, and we are going to bring Tenet to its knees,” said Scott Svonkin, chief of staff for Assemblyman Paul Koretz (D-West Hollywood). “Business has to learn that people and patients are more important than profits or buildings.”