Registered nurses at Long Beach Medical Center and Miller Children’s and Women’s Hospital in Long Beach, Calif. decided unanimously to pass a vote of no confidence in the hospital’s administration, announced California Nurses Association/National Nurses United (CNA/NNU). The nurses, who voted on Thursday, July 17, cited repeated bad faith bargaining practices by hospital executives, who have continued to disregard failures in patient care standards.
“Nurses have had enough,” said Stephanie Jobe, RN in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) at Miller Children’s and Women’s Hospital. “We are committed to our patients and our profession, but we cannot continue to work under leadership that ignores our safety warnings, stonewalls us at the bargaining table, and punishes transparency.”
The vote of no confidence reflects escalating frustration with MemorialCare senior management personnel, who nurses say have failed to address systemic issues despite repeated opportunities. Among their top concerns, nurses cite:
- Unsafe staffing levels across units
- Unmitigated workplace violence, stemming from a lack of a comprehensive prevention plan
- Financial decisions that prioritize profits over care
- Refusal to bargain in good faith
Jobe, RN continued, “Despite these challenges, nurses have continued to care for their patients–working overtime, training new staff, and supporting each other. The vote is not just a statement of protest, but a call to urgent action and accountability.”
The vote results will be shared with relevant regulatory bodies. Nurses are also calling on community members, elected officials, and patients to stand with them in demanding fair contracts that ensure safe staffing and high quality of patient care.
Nurses previously went on a 1-day strike on May 22. CNA represents nearly 2,100 nurses at Long Beach Medical Center and Miller Children’s and Women’s Hospital.
California Nurses Association/National Nurses United is the largest and fastest-growing union and professional association of registered nurses in the nation with more than 100,000 members in more than 200 facilities throughout California and more than 225,000 RNs nationwide.
