Providence Workers Protest Staffing Cuts Across Northern California

February 24, 2025 February 27, 2025

Editorial Staff

Health Workers Rally in Northern California Over Staffing and Service Cuts

On February 12, a significant collective action was undertaken by more than 2,000 members of the National Union of Healthcare Workers (NUHW) across Providence hospitals and hospices in Northern California. This regional Day of Action aimed to highlight the critical staffing shortages and significant reductions in healthcare services affecting communities that rely on Providence for medical care.

Building on years of successful organizing, NUHW members are now engaged in a unified campaign to pressure Providence into offering competitive wages and benefits. This move is intended to restore safe staffing levels and prevent Providence from further reducing services following several closures.

Psyche Clark, an obstetric technician with nearly 30 years at Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital, expressed her concerns to the Santa Rosa Press Democrat, saying, "Es realmente desgarrador cómo hemos caído tan bajo en los últimos 10 años. Cada vez que te das la vuelta, están cerrando algo. Y tenemos muy poco personal. Somos el centro de traumatología. Deberíamos ser los mejores.”

Gabriela Caro, an imaging scheduler at Queen of the Valley, concurred, noting that Providence's management since taking over St. Joseph operations a decade ago has led to department closures and staff reductions. In her words, “Los pacientes esperan más tiempo para recibir atención. Necesitamos este contrato para poder preservar los servicios y poder ser un hospital en el que la comunidad pueda seguir creyendo.”

The event received coverage from multiple media outlets, including the Northern California Public Media, Napa Valley Register, KSRO, KRCR, and other local news organizations.

Providence, recognized as the fifth-largest nonprofit hospital chain in the U.S., expanded its presence in Northern California through the acquisition of St. Joseph Health. The chain now owns six regional hospitals, with NUHW representing workers at five: Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital, Petaluma Valley Hospital, Queen of the Valley Hospital in Napa, Redwood Memorial Hospital, and St. Joseph Eureka in Humboldt County. Additionally, Providence operates two hospices in Sonoma County, also represented by NUHW.

Despite holding $7.8 billion in financial reserves and a $150 million venture capital arm, Providence has laid off workers and significantly reduced available medical services. Since 2020, Providence has closed outpatient labs in three counties, maternity centers in Humboldt and Sonoma counties, rehabilitation units in Humboldt County, and urgent care clinics in Sonoma County.

Jennifer Harrison, a palliative care worker from Petaluma, shared her challenges with Northern California Public Radio, stating, “Necesito poder brindarles atención de calidad a mis pacientes cuando están muriendo. Si eso significa que veo a cinco o seis pacientes en una jornada de ocho horas, es un día completo y no puedo brindarles a los pacientes la atención que merecen.”

Providence's quest for increased profits extends beyond Northern California, drawing scrutiny from state authorities. In Oregon, nearly 5,000 nurses represented by the Oregon Nurses Association went on a strike for over a month due to "systematic understaffing." In Washington State, Providence agreed to return $21 million in medical fees and erase $137 million in medical debt to resolve charges by the State Attorney General's Office, following reports that patients eligible for charity care were sent to collections.

In California, former Attorney General Xavier Becerra blocked a proposed merger between Providence and Adventist hospitals, citing potential increases in healthcare costs and restricted access to services.

NUHW members are advocating for staffing improvements, reduced turnover, and service protection through wages and benefits on par with competitors like Kaiser Permanente and Sutter Health. They also demand Providence provide at least five months' notice before closing any services, allowing workers and the community to oppose such decisions. However, Providence has resisted providing advance notice and has proposed annual raises of less than 2% for most workers.

Erica Goldsmith, a physical therapist at St. Joseph Eureka, expressed her frustration to a local TV station, stating, “Providence no nos ofrece salarios de mercado por nuestro trabajo. Mucha gente se va a lugares donde pagan mejor. Y mucha gente está aquí porque les encanta estar aquí y les encanta servir a esta comunidad, como me pasa a mí.”

Each picket line outside a Providence hospital included a rally with local elected leaders.

The NUHW rally in front of Memorial Hospital attracted several elected officials, including State Assemblymembers Chris Rogers (D-Santa Rosa) and Damon Connolly (D-San Rafael); Rohnert Park City Councilmember Jackie Elward; Santa Rosa City Councilmembers Natalie Rogers and Caroline Bañuelos; and Sonoma County Supervisor Chris Coursey.

According to the Press Democrat, Coursey assured workers of the "local community's" support during a brief speech, recalling his late wife, a registered nurse at Memorial Hospital, who passed away on New Year's Eve 2010 after a long battle with cancer.

“Ella nos dijo sus últimas palabras a mí y a sus hijos en One East. Esto fue hace 14 años”, Coursey stated. “Ella trabajó aquí durante 20 años antes de eso. Ella sabía que los trabajos que ustedes hacen son los que hacen que este hospital funcione bien. Ella sabía que ustedes son la columna vertebral de este hospital. Ustedes son lo que hace que Providence siga abierto aquí.”