Editorials

SAN PABLO — More than 400 nurses turned out Monday to strike at Doctors Medical Centers in San Pablo and Pinole, leaving patients under the care of temporary healthcare workers. 

The company that owns the two hospitals, the Santa Barbara-based Tenet Healthcare Corporation, has signed a 30-day contract to bring in nurses from out of state in order to operate the hospital during the strike. 

Officials from the California Nurses Association and Tenet have been negotiating without much progress since July and nurses have been working without a contract since August. 

Nurses want a defined benefit plan for retirement that that goes beyond the 401K plan that Tenet presently offers, including pension payments and health coverage. 

While nurses have walked out, a Tenet spokesman says patient care has not changed. 

“There has been no effect on quality of care, we still have elected procedures and the emergency room is open as normal,” said David Langness, a spokesman for Tenet Healthcare Corporation. “Patient care is not in jeopardy.” 

Nurses on strike disagree however, saying that the strike compromised hospital services. “Emergency room nurses have told us that the hospital is overcrowded,” said Tami Roncskevitz, a spokeswoman for the California Nurses Association. “Tenet is doing a disservice to the community.”  

A spokesman for the Doctors Medical Centers in San Pablo and Pinole, Michel Burleson, said earlier Monday that some nurses may cross the picket line. 

But Liz Jacobs, a registered nurse at Doctors Medical Center, said that only a handful of striking nurses returned to work Monday. 

“Nurses are digging their heels in,” said Jacobs.