Barton Hospital nurses go out on strike

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The almost 180 registered nurses at Barton Hospital went out on a planned strike Friday morning to show the South Lake Tahoe hospital they want a fair contract, one that honors all of their demands.

The nurses and other members of the California Nursing Association (CNA) all had their red T-shirts on, carrying picket signs and gathered on the corner of Highway 50 and 3rd Street as well as on an empty lot in front of the hospital. There, a large group of nurses and their supporters surrounded the red tents and a stage. Loud music could be heard from the corner, while food and supplies were under the tents for the protesters. Some passerby showed their support with a toot of their car horn. Other local unions and some non-nurse Barton employees stopped by as well.

Speakers from CNA hospitals in Sacramento and San Francisco joined in the activity Friday, speaking from the stage to ignite the strikers.

"In the end, we will win," said Zenei Cortez, a Kaiser nurse and co-president of CNA. "Keep your eye on the prize."

"You need to be respected by Barton," said CNA Director Diane McClure. "We have true nurse power, one day longer is one day stronger."

She said they are prepared to hold more strikes should it be necessary.

Since the new nurse's union and Barton originally went to the bargaining table in March 2018 they have reached 26 tentative agreements (TAs). These agreements include proposals such as New RN Orientation, Certification Recognition, Employment Categories, Reduction in Force, Nursing Practice Standards, and Safe Patient Handling (all considered management rights).

Approximately 70 TAs make up the final contract. Yet to come to the table are the economic rights including wages and benefits.

"We are eager to move forward discussing an economics package including a wage proposal as this is important to our nurses," said Barton's Director of Marketing, Public Relations & Patient Experience Mindi Befu. "We're ready for it."

It isn't only money that was at the forefront of Friday's strike.

Nurses contend that hospital management is refusing to take the necessary steps to retain experienced nurses and schedule the staffing necessary to provide the best patient care possible.

Befu said Barton is fully staffed in the nursing department and should a nurse ever miss a 15-minute break, they are paid one extra hour (at overtime rates if applicable).

Nurses also want a closed shop, meaning all nurses must join the union at Barton. The hospital contends joining the union should be up to the individual employee. In Nevada, where Barton has operations, open shops are allowed (where union membership is optional).

“Nurses are committed to providing compassionate and skilled care to their patients, but nurses who are overworked and exhausted mentally and physically cannot provide the best care to their patients,” said Beth Dameral, RN. “We need Barton to honor our expertise, to respect our voices, and to negotiate in good faith. When the nurses’ voices are heard, the patients get the care they need and deserve.”

The union also says they have nurses in collections due to unpaid bills, something they feel shouldn't happen if they had good benefits.

Befu said Barton offers benefits as low as $20 a pay period, depending on family needs.

“Barton Memorial is refusing to disclose how it is that nurses are facing tens of thousands of dollars in medical debt that they accrued while working at Barton,” said Dameral. “It is scandalous that nurses, who are committed to caring for this community, are finding themselves in collections for their own care. We know some nurses are seeing charges that far exceed what they would be billed for if they received their insurance through the ACA.”

Each side has filed unfair labor practices charges with the National Labor Relations Board, accusing each other of not bargaining in good faith.

The next bargaining unit meetings are scheduled for June 4/5.

To staff the hospital during the strike, Barton brought in 60 RNs. The nurses said their strike was for just one day, but management at the hospital told them it had to be for five days as that is the contract they must sign with the company supplying the 60 nurses. The nurses also get paid hotel rooms and food while in South Lake Tahoe. Barton RNs will be allowed back to work in five days, depending on their individual schedules.

Not only were nurses brought in, but additional security officers were hired for extra patrol to ensure the safety of patients and staff.

Another rally at 4:00 p.m. was scheduled, called the "Rowdy Rally" followed by a barbeque on the lot across from Barton.