South Florida Nurses to Strike for Safe Staffing on January 9

Nurses Announce Strike Plans at Key Florida Hospitals

Registered nurses across three Healthcare Systems of America (HSA) facilities in South Florida have scheduled strikes for January 9. These actions will take place at Florida Medical Center in Fort Lauderdale, Palmetto General Hospital in Hialeah, and Coral Gables Hospital in Coral Gables. The nurses are represented by the National Nurses Organizing Committee/National Nurses United (NNOC/NNU).

The strikes are part of ongoing negotiations for renewed union contracts, with a primary focus on achieving safe staffing levels to ensure quality patient care. RNs emphasize the importance of having more nurses on each unit to reduce patient loads per nurse, which they argue is crucial for maintaining high standards of care.

“We had hoped that HSA would take the chance to improve on Steward’s old practices,” stated Lazaro Garcia, an RN in the critical care unit at Palmetto General Hospital. He added, “Unfortunately, what we’re seeing is basically Steward 2.0. Nurses are fighting for what we need to take care of our patients in our new contract, and the number one thing is safe staffing. More nurses on every unit means fewer patients for each nurse, and that means safer care for everyone, as we know from data, research, and our experience at the bedside.”

Chrystel Willis, an RN in the cardiovascular intensive care unit at Florida Medical Center, expressed a unified front among the nurses, saying, “We decided to call strikes to show management we’re serious about safe staffing. We are unified in demanding better from HSA for our patients and for ourselves, and that has to mean safely staffing every unit on every shift.”

Highlighting a critical concern, Leroy Desance, an RN in the intensive care unit at Coral Gables Hospital, pointed out, "Employee retention is a major issue for patient safety and has been a top priority of nurses. HSA has not meaningfully addressed this issue after months at the bargaining table, so now we're ready to take action for safe staffing."

To ensure patient safety during the work stoppages, the striking nurses have provided hospital management with a 10-day notice. NNOC/NNU plans to update the press on the strike-day arrangements and media availability as the date approaches.

National Nurses United, the largest and fastest-growing union and professional association of registered nurses in the U.S., represents over 225,000 members nationwide. Its affiliates include the California Nurses Association/National Nurses Organizing Committee, DC Nurses Association, Michigan Nurses Association, Minnesota Nurses Association, and New York State Nurses Association.

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