Registered nurses at Providence St. Joseph Health (PSJH) hospitals throughout California will hold a day of action today, Friday, March 31, to highlight safe patient care and workers’ rights issues emerging as the system, nurses say, has failed to follow through on promises of enhanced community services and benefits made during the 2016 merger of Providence Health & Services and St. Joseph Health.

Registered nurses at Hospitals of Providence Sierra and Memorial Campuses reached a tentative agreement on a new three-year contract that extends safe patient care standards, improves pay equity to retain the most experienced nurses, and supports a strong union to best advocate for safe patient care, National Nurses Organizing Committee/National Nurses United (NNOC/NNU) announced today.

The campaign for the Healthy California Act is inviting area residents to a community briefing in Santa Cruz, Calif. on Saturday, April 1 to learn about SB 562, a bill introduced in the California Senate last month that would guarantee healthcare to all Californians by establishing a Medicare for all type system.

With national debate continuing on the future of healthcare following the defeat of the House “repeal and replacement” bill for the Affordable Care Act, California legislators will soon begin hearings on an alternative approach that would expand coverage to everyone – with no debilitating out of pocket costs that drive people to medical bankruptcy or to forgo needed care.

Registered nurses at Providence St. Joseph Health (PSJH) hospitals throughout California will hold a day of action Friday, March 31, to highlight safe patient care and workers’ rights issues emerging as the system, nurses say, has failed to follow through on promises of enhanced community services and benefits made during the 2016 merger of Providence Health & Services and St. Joseph Health.

All California residents will be guaranteed health coverage with comprehensive health services offered at minimal out of pocket costs and real patient choice of where to go for care under a bill that will begin its legislative review in mid-to late April in the California State Senate.