This article is reprinted from the Speak Out Now healthcare newsletter at Highland Hospital in Oakland, CA.
California state law requires that county healthcare facilities hold public hearings (known as Beilenson Hearings) before reducing or eliminating any services. The law requires that the board provide notice of all proposed reductions, how many community members will be affected by the change to each service, and what the expected cost savings will be from each reduction in services.
AHS provided no such information, with the layoffs being a surprise even to the managers of the affected departments! There was no 14-day notice, and no opportunity for public comment. This is not just unfair, it is blatantly illegal.
In addition, with departments now critically short-staffed, remaining workers are forced to take on extra tasks and responsibilities outside of their job descriptions. This is unsafe for workers and patients, and leads directly to union contract violations regarding workload and staffing.
Unfair labor practice violations and a cease and desist have already been filed. We need to hold AHS executives accountable! They are not above the law and they cannot violate our contract!
Click here to read the article printed in the 01-14-26 Healthcare Newsletter
