Healthcare members at Gateways Hospital and Mental Health Center (Los Angeles) gave up our lunch breaks to rally and picket over management's lack of commitment to frontline caregivers and quality care.
Management's proposal of a 1 percent raise over each of the next two years is not enough to keep or recruit experienced healthcare workers to ensure quality care.
Though management changed our lunch hours to try and stop us, members courageously stood united. "We can't afford to wait for Gateways to do the right thing. We are advocating for our patients and to keep dedicated experienced healthcare workers in our hospital," said Charlotte Pruitt, an LVN, who has worked in healthcare for nearly 30 years.
Members at Gateways facility are meeting with their bargaining team next week and will discuss our next steps.