Long Beach nurses pass no-confidence vote against hospital administration

In Long Beach, California, nurses at both Long Beach Medical Center and Miller Children’s and Women’s Hospital have passed a vote of no confidence in their hospital administration. This decision, announced by the California Nurses Association/National Nurses United (CNA/NNU), was made unanimously on July 17. The nurses cite continual bad faith bargaining practices by hospital executives and a disregard for patient care standards as their primary concerns.

"Nurses have had enough," declared Stephanie Jobe, RN, who works 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 decision underscores growing dissatisfaction with MemorialCare's senior management. Nurses express concerns over several persistent issues, including:

• Inadequate staffing levels across various departments
• Unaddressed workplace violence due to the absence of a comprehensive prevention plan
• Financial priorities that favor profits over patient care
• Lack of good faith in bargaining discussions

Jobe, RN emphasized, “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 results of the vote will be communicated to relevant regulatory bodies. The nurses are also appealing to community members, elected officials, and patients to support their demand for fair contracts that guarantee safe staffing levels and high-quality patient care.

Previously, nurses organized a one-day strike on May 22. The CNA represents nearly 2,100 nurses across both Long Beach Medical Center and Miller Children’s and Women’s Hospital.

California Nurses Association/National Nurses United is recognized as the largest and fastest-growing union and professional association of registered nurses in the United States, boasting over 100,000 members in more than 200 facilities in California, and more than 225,000 registered nurses nationwide.