Workers at Sierra Vista and Twin Cities Hospitals in the San Luis Obispo area say new owner Adventist’s push to increase healthcare costs will exacerbate chronic understaffing, putting patients and workers at risk
Workers at Sierra Vista and Twin Cities Hospitals in the San Luis Obispo area say new owner Adventist’s push to increase healthcare costs will exacerbate chronic understaffing, putting patients and workers at risk
SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. – Healthcare workers and allies gathered at Sierra Vista Regional Medical Center in San Luis Obispo and Twin Cities Community Hospital in Templeton on July 30 and 31 to speak out against understaffing and their hospitals’ proposed increase in worker healthcare costs that are making it difficult to attract and retain experienced staff.
Approximately 400 employees are in contract negotiations with Adventist Health, who purchased the two hospitals from Tenet Healthcare earlier this year. Healthcare workers say that the increased cost of living, high stress, and low pay contribute to a lack of experienced staff needed to care for patients after four years of being pushed to the brink.
Inflation and the rising cost of living are displacing experienced caregivers from their communities and careers. Together with patients and allies, they are demanding hospitals invest in the workers who keep the hospitals running.
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SEIU-United Healthcare Workers West (SEIU-UHW) is a healthcare justice union of more than 100,000 healthcare workers, patients, and activists united to ensure affordable, accessible, high-quality care for all Californians, provided by valued and respected caregivers. Learn more at www.seiu-uhw.org.