CONCORD, Calif. (KCBS RADIO) – Dozens of nurses in the East Bay have walked off the job this morning, launching a one-day strike at a vital medical facility.
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Many are picketing in front of John Muir Behavioral Health Center in Concord. They have accused managers of understaffing, giving nurses unsafe assignments and not properly training new nurses.
Sara Starr-Cho, a psychiatric nurse, told KCBS Radio the actions at the behavioral health center have led to unsafe working conditions.
"It can be really difficult," she said. "We have, at any given time, two or three patients on suicide watch in the hospitals, so we'll ask for additional staff. Those patients need to have one nurse to one patient ratio. Oftentimes management will say 'are you sure? Let's reassess, let’s make sure they really need that level of care.'"
The nurses union is also asking for a pay increase to keep up with the high cost of living in the Bay Area.
A spokesperson for John Muir said it has held 30 bargaining sessions with the union on a fair contract and it could be voted on if the union leaders approve or allow for a vote.
Earlier this week, a two-day nurses strike at Saint Rose Hospital in Hayward was called off at the last minute after a breakthrough in contract talks.
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