Employees gather Friday, March 31,2023, outside Riverside Community Hospital to protest what they consider unsafe staffing conditions. (Photo by Sarah Hofmann, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Healthcare workers demonstrated in front of Riverside Community Hospital on Friday morning, March 31, to protest understaffing.
Approximately 100 protesters — many in scrubs and hospital uniforms — waved purple-and-yellow signs with slogans such as “Caregivers are: overworked” and “Too many patients. Not enough caregivers.” Cars honked as they drove past on Magnolia Avenue.
The protest at the downtown hospital was the largest in a series of rallies at HCA Healthcare facilities in California, a news release from SEIU-United Healthcare Workers West states.
“More than 3,000 healthcare workers (statewide), who are currently in bargaining with management over short-staffing and other issues, are concerned that the company’s profit focus is imperiling worker and patient safety,” the release states.
A statement from Riverside Community Hospital issued by spokesperson David Maxfield said its staffing “is safe, appropriate, and in line with other community hospitals and applicable regulations.”
“Labor union negotiations are a part of our operations cycle, conducted every three years,” the statement said. “During each renewal period, our goal is the same: to secure a fair agreement that continues to support a culture of colleague safety, care excellence and compassion.”
Bella Panchal, a speech-language pathologist who is on the bargaining team, said negotiations have been “a challenge.”
Ray Valdivia, a lab assistant and protest organizer, said the understaffing means that, when emergency situations pull staff away from regular duties, other patients aren’t taken care of properly.
“We’re here fighting to make sure that we get that safe staffing,” he said.
Xochitl Gonzalez, a patient-care technician and steward at HCA’s West Hills Hospital, came to back Riverside hospital workers. West Hills picketed earlier in March.
“We’re all in it together, HCA facilities, and we need to support each other,” she said.
Gonzalez said that, if the two sides don’t come to an agreement, protesters will likely end up taking a vote to strike.
