8 N A T I O N A L N U R S E W W W . N A T I O N A L N U R S E S U N I T E D . O R G J U LY | A U G U S T | S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 9
NEWS BRIEFS
CALIFORNIA
R
egistered nurses at Barton
Memorial Hospital in South Lake
Tahoe held a one-day strike on
Sept. 20 because hospital manage-
ment refused to make adequate proposals in
bargaining over working conditions that
affect patient care.
The RNs said that 14 months ago, they
presented the hospital with a health care
proposal, which included the elimination of
employee medical debt and an increase in
health care coverage. Management ignored
the proposal and failed to offer a counter-
proposal, even though Barton management
had indicated in July 2019 that a health care
proposal was forthcoming. The nurses have
been in negotiations with management
since March 2018.
"It is important that we have some clarity
on what Barton is proposing in order to
recruit and retain experienced nurses," said
Kelli Teteak, a registered nurse in the inten-
sive care unit. "Nurses who work together
for many years are able to provide the high-
est quality of care. Experienced nurses have
an important role in providing training and
mentorship to newer nurses. However, due
to Barton's short staffing and inadequate
benefits, nurses leave at an alarming rate."
According to information supplied by
Barton Memorial, more than 20 percent of
registered nurses who work at Barton are in
collections or Barton is deducting exorbitant
amounts from their paychecks for care they or
their family members received at the hospital.
"It is clear the hospital does not take seri-
ously the well-being of those who are
committed to caring for this community,"
said Beth Dameral, RN. "Nurses should
receive adequate health care coverage so they
and their families can live healthy lives with-
out the burden of medical debt hanging over
their heads. We wonder, too, how many of
our patients are in serious financial debt to
this hospital?"
—Rachel Berger
Barton Memorial RNs strike
