Hundreds Of Nurses Walk Out At Two San Jose Hospitals
SAN JOSE (KCBS) – A large group of registered nurses walked off the job Thursday morning at two hospitals in San Jose.
Instead of changing IVs and administering medication, nurses at Good Samaritan Hospital and Regional Medical Center were walking the picket line in a dispute over wages, benefits, pension and staffing levels.
The union represents 1,400 members of the California Nurses Association/National Nurses United.
"What we're asking for is that the hospital has sufficient staff to staff for all patients that are coming into the hospital and also to staff for all patients that are going to be discharged, but haven't left yet," said Malinda Markowitz with the California Nurses Association.
Hundreds Of Nurses Walk Out At Two San Jose Hospitals
Big buses filled with replacement nurses arrived on Thursday morning at both facilities and Leslie Kelsey with Good Samaritan Hospital said it was almost as though there were no strike at all.
"Neither of our hospitals will be having any changes in the services we deliver to the community, including elective surgeries," Kelsey said.
The hospitals have brought in replacement workers on five-day contracts.
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