Communications and Media

Nearly 140 nurses of Alameda county jails decided to walk off from their usual jobs in protest on Tuesday of 10th, March, this year. They protested for what they termed as six months of unjust labor practices and stalled negotiations of contracts.

Half of the hundred and forty nurses that went on strike were Filipino people. They protested outside North county jail and the larger number marched in front of Santa Rita, the largest jail in the county.
 The workers complained that the Prison Health Services did not keep their promise on the 10 annual raise. When interviewed, one nurse at the jail said that she felt cheated by the management as they had families back home who were depending on them for support.

Others asserted that they had bills to pay and if they were denied their rights as workers life would be unbearable.

Protestors also claimed that the management had planned a 25 healthcare salary increase. This meant that a married nurse with children to take care of had to pay 3,000 annually for the coverage. One licensed vocational nurse in jail said she has three children to take care of and the increase will be a great impact to her as her entire family depended on healthcare gains.

The Prison Health Services affirmed that it has suggested across the boarder increase of salary and a minimum of 4. Management also claimed that it has offered full health care coverage to the workers. The workers protested that the new rule involves lofty co-pays.

Protestors said that though they had planned for a one day strike there were rumors swirling that the prison management was to lock out all the workers for one week

 They do not intimidate us It actually makes us stronger, asserted Joan Fabro, a vocational nurse.
A medical record technician, Kim Tovar said that they meant business and they did not plan to give in. The prison Health Services did not confirm of the lockout .They however offered a statement saying that they regretted the decision of the nurses to walk out and were still committed on reaching a fair negotiation on a competitive and reasonable contract.

The management has hired temporary workers as the workers go on strike to ensure that the patients in Santa Rita are catered for.

The workers and the Service employees International Union had approved the one day strike last month after they had worked more than two months with no contract and making headway with Tennessee Prison Health Services.

A memorandum from the company to its staff had being issued the previous week saying the union workers were not to be allowed back to work until 16th March or until another contract was signed.

I think it is dirty and low, Tovar averred of the alleged lockout.

Carrie Singleton one of the licensed nurses encouraged the workers to stand their ground and be committed to the fight even after they have been rocked out. The main issue in negotiating with the management as it was clearly stipulated is that they always see vast increase of health care costs workers.  According to Blaire, a nurse at North county jail, any proposed salary increment is used up by 30 health care increase.

Prison Health Services managers asserted that wages at the facilities ranged from 25 to 64 higher compared to that of nurse earnings in Bay Area. The workers asserted that Tennessee Prison Health Services had not been negotiating on a new contract in good faith and had backtracked after they had agreed on a 10 increase of salary and health care promotion. They revealed that the company had decided to increment health premiums by 30.Alameda County pays PHS services  25 million annually in order to offer medical services.

According to a press release, Prison Health Services has been a dedicated team that has more than 3,800 caring professionals who provide quality care to patient and cost effective care in hundreds of prisons, jails and juvenile facilities globally. PHS community brings to the patients and caregivers a base of efficiency, quality and accountability to achieve great results. They have invested wisely over years to the community. Denial of their rights and the failure by the management to increment their salary would have adverse effects on the company and the community. The better they are paid the more they will continue producing effective work.

As nurses In USA go about on their daily jobs there are several issues that demoralizes them. They always cite some issues that make it complex for them to do their daily jobs or to feel secured and safe in their professional career.  The bill of rights clearly stipulates seven rights that the nurses should have when administering their duties.

Nurses have a right to practice in manner that is fulfilling to their career obligations to those receiving the medical attention. Anything that triggers them from this right makes it difficult for them to continue with their duties. They also have a right to practice in environs that are favorable to them as far as their professional ethics are concerned. Where a management promises a contract or a wage increase and does not offer, shows a lack of seriousness on their part to their workers.

In most cases where nurses end up striking they are not supported by the government. For example, when the Irish nurses strike, the Minister of Health asserted that the nurses decision was neither justified nor necessary. Nurses strike leads to industrial dispute in the country and the people who end up suffering more are the patients. The government has to work hand in hand with the Nursing Unions to make sure that they are just to their rights.