This hospital says it has ‘values’ but it turns out, the only value it cares about is profits.”
 
Registered nurses at St. Joseph Hospital, Eureka and Redwood Memorial Hospital are standing united with their co-workers today in the face of layoffs that jeopardize patient care and violate the workers bargaining agreement.
 
“In 2017, St. Joseph Hospital made $43.7 million in profits. Redwood made $14.3 million. As a whole, the parent company, Providence St. Joseph made $780 million dollars,” said Lesley Ester, Eureka RN and a Chief Nurse Representative for the California Nurses Association.
 
“Despite these profits, hospital administrators are now laying off our co-workers, endangering both patients and staff. This hospital says it has ‘values’ but it turns out the only value it cares about is profits,” said Ester.
 
While no registered nurses are impacted by the layoffs issued today, they will impact patient care sitters, pharmacy technicians and emergency technicians, all of whom provide invaluable patient care and support to the nursing team. Workers were notified individually and without required notice in violation of their collective bargaining agreement.

Earlier this week, nurses and caregivers held a press conference to raise concerns about safe staffing in the hospital. Administration’s apparent response is to make the matter worse by asking staff to do more with less, say nurses.