Prime Healthcare hospital employees unionize, to challenge recent layoffs
Agroup of medical workers at Prime Healthcare Services’ Encino (Calif.) Hospital
Medical Center formed a union last week and have set their sights on fighting layoffs at the facility during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The group, which includes 25 case managers, social workers, pharmacists, clinical lab scientists and dietitians, will join the Service
Employees International Union
Local 121RN, a union of registered nurses and other licensed healthcare workers.
“We’re working on the front lines during the worst public health crisis in modern history,” the Encino Professionals’ Union Organizing
Committee said in a statement.
“We’ll now have the ability to sit across the table from management to address issues such as under-staffing and working conditions.”
The hospital laid off nearly half of its staff, including the entire clinical lab, a week before the election and brought in replacement personnel to fill those positions, the union said. The newly organized Encino employees plan to fight the layoffs.
Prime Healthcare said it has been able to retain more than 99% of its employees without reductions or furloughs during the pandemic and noted that “Encino is a small community hospital that Prime saved from closure 12 years ago.”
“Like most hospitals across the country, Encino Hospital had been experiencing lower volumes due to COVID-19, and it was necessary to consolidate certain areas with our sister hospital in Sherman Oaks, impacting only 25 positions,” Prime Healthcare said in the statement. “These Encino positions were not part of frontline care and involved departments such as human resources, food services and lab services. Every staff member is invited to apply to other roles within our health system.”
SEIU Local 121RN President Nina Wells said the union is “elated” to add the hospital’s employees to it ranks. Ontario, Calif.-based Prime Healthcare operates 45 hospitals in 14 states.