More than 70 nurses at Concord, Calif.-based John Muir Behavioral Health Center have gone on strike to protest contracts, KRON reported May 3.
The facility and its nurses have been negotiating a contract for nearly two years, with nurses demanding better pay, benefits and safety measures. They are also asking for higher quality training for nurses in specialty units.
Those striking feel the facility has insufficient staffing, as many nurses have left due to these issues, which is costing patient and worker safety.
Hospital officials told the news outlet that the California Nurses Association has not given any evidence or examples of unsafe nurse-to-patient assignments and that current wage and benefits proposals are designed to recruit and retain staff.
John Muir also said that the CNA has not produced evidence that nurses are inadequately trained, as nurses receive six shifts of live orientation and five days of classroom orientation when they begin their position.
Seventy-eight of John Muir's nurses are part of CNA.