Nurses Rally Against Planned Layoffs at California CommonSpirit Hospitals

Over 5,000 Nurses Protest Planned Layoffs by CommonSpirit Health

In a strong show of opposition, more than 5,000 registered nurses have signed a petition against CommonSpirit Health's decision to lay off over 175 frontline healthcare workers. The action took place alongside a rally and press conference aimed at challenging the proposed cuts at 17 hospitals across California. The nurses, represented by the California Nurses Association/National Nurses United (CNA/NNU), are urging CommonSpirit Health to revoke the layoff plans, emphasizing the potential risk to patient safety.

The layoffs predominantly affect ancillary staff such as patient transporters, therapy aides, telemetry technicians, unit assistants, clerks, and secretaries. Notices have also been issued to nurses, including those specialized in education, wound care, and pediatrics. The reduction in support staff is expected to increase the administrative burden on nurses, reducing their availability for direct patient care.

The petition highlights the critical nature of these roles, stating that they are "essential for us to provide safe, quality care." It further emphasizes the nurses' duty as patient advocates: "We will not stay silent about these layoffs – we are obligated to inform our community about the dangers these cuts will have on our hospitals, which will ultimately increase harm to our patients and the community as a whole."

Additionally, the nurses expressed their refusal to undertake tasks outside their scope that were previously handled by laid-off employees, as this would interfere with their primary responsibilities of patient care.

The petition outlines specific demands:

1. Immediately halt any planned layoffs of frontline RNs, caregivers, and healthcare workers at our facilities;
2. Ensure staffing of licensed and unlicensed personnel based on patient acuity, available resources, and local patient populations, rather than CommonSpirit’s national standardized “productivity” model;
3. Make decisions that enhance efficiency and transparency without compromising patient care and nursing practice.

CNA represents nurses in numerous California facilities, including Arroyo Grande Community Hospital, California Hospital Medical Center in Los Angeles, and Mercy San Juan Medical Center in Carmichael, among others. The union is part of the larger CNA/National Nurses Organizing Committee, affiliated with National Nurses United, which represents over 17,000 nurses at 33 CommonSpirit Health facilities nationwide.

CommonSpirit Health has issued layoff notices at several Californian facilities, prompting significant concern and action from the nursing community.

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 over 200 facilities throughout California and more than 225,000 RNs nationwide.