Healthcare workers at Providence St. Joseph Medical Center in Burbank kicked off their five-day walkout on Monday.
Frontline healthcare workers, including lab technicians, X-ray technicians, and housekeepers, are participating in the strike. They claim the hospital refuses to negotiate in good faith.
Eric Sanitate, a respiratory therapist, told KNX News’ Jon Baird, that the union has been bargaining with Providence for months and the hospital has refused to budge.
“We effectively haven't had a raise for three years,” he said. “We've never really gotten out of the short staffing and pandemic mode. They've operated this place on a skeleton crew during the pandemic out of necessity and they continued to do so after the pandemic because they can't attract anybody to work here anymore. They've basically given up being competitive with other area hospitals.”
Another employee said they don’t get paid as much as workers in nearby hospitals.
“Compared to our peers in the surrounding hospitals, we are grossly underpaid by as much as 25 percent,” he said.
A statement by Providence St. Joseph Medical Center claimed its bargaining team "team proposed significant wage increases and contract enhancements." That reportedly included a 24% increase in wages over three years.
The hospital also added that the strike wouldn’t impact patient care.
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