South Florida nurses deliver notices for strikes at three HSA hospitals

Nurses to strike Jan. 9 at Florida Medical Center, Palmetto General Hospital, and Coral Gables Hospital

Registered nurses at three Healthcare Systems of America (HSA) facilities in the South Florida area have delivered notices for strikes taking place on Jan. 9. National Nurses Organizing Committee/National Nurses United (NNOC/NNU) represents more than 1,000 nurses at Florida Medical Center in Fort Lauderdale, Palmetto General Hospital in Hialeah, and Coral Gables Hospital in Coral Gables, where strikes are planned for January.

Nurses at the HSA facilities are currently bargaining for renewed union contracts with HSA management. The RNs say they are striking for safe staffing because of the implications safe staffing has for safe patient care.

"We had hoped that HSA would take the chance to improve on Steward's old practices," said Lazaro Garcia, RN in the critical care unit at Palmetto General Hospital. "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."

"We decided to call strikes to show management we're serious about safe staffing" said Chrystel Willis, RN in the cardiovascular intensive care unit at Florida Medical Center. "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."

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

Striking nurses give hospital management 10-days notice for work stoppages in order to ensure safe patient care. NNOC/NNU will advise press on nurses' strike-day plans and strike-line interview availability in the days ahead of the strikes.

NNOC/NNU represents more than 1,000 nurses combined at Florida Medical Center, Palmetto General Hospital, and Coral Gables Hospital.

National Nurses United is the largest and fastest-growing union and professional association of registered nurses in the United States with more than 225,000 members nationwide. NNU affiliates include California Nurses Association/National Nurses Organizing Committee, DC Nurses Association, Michigan Nurses Association, Minnesota Nurses Association, and New York State Nurses Association.