Hospital workers will strike Oct. 13 to protect patient care at VHS Hospitals

HEMET, Calif.—Healthcare workers at Menifee Valley Medical Center and Hemet Valley Medical Center will strike for 24 hours starting at 6:00 AM on Oct. 13. The Valley Health System (VHS) board of directors has allowed its management company, Quorum, to repeatedly reject workers' proposals to help the hospitals recover from bankruptcy and protect patient care. Caregivers have filed charges with the Public Employment Relations Board for unfair labor practices by VHS management.

"We don't want to strike, but we can't sit by while Quorum guts the vital services our communities depend on," said Patricia Wilson, Menifee Valley Medical Center. "VHS can't recover by cutting patient services and standards for workers. We've lost dozens of experienced caregivers to other hospitals already."

In August, the VHS board authorized Quorum to reject an offer from its employees that would have provided $4.3 million in concessions to help the struggling hospital while protecting the health of the community. Since declaring bankruptcy, VHS has taken steps to close the 90-bed skilled nursing facility in Hemet and lay off staff without regard for their skill and experience, while incurring $100,000 in fines from the Department of Health Services for sub-standard patient care.

Who: Healthcare workers in scrubs, community leaders

When: Monday, October 13, 2008

6:00 AM – 6:00 PM Strike at both hospitals, workers picket outside

12:00 NOON – Rally and press conference at Hemet Valley Medical Center

Where: Hemet Valley Medical Center – 117 E. Devonshire Ave., Hemet

Menifee Valley Medical Center – 28400 McCall Blvd., Sun City