This article is reprinted from the Speak Out Now healthcare newsletter at Kaiser and Highland Hospitals in Oakland, CA.
At Highland, workers are once again standing up to improve work conditions, which in turn supports our patients. Highland has been in an understaffing crisis, and we’re not taking it any more! We need breaks, consistency on our floors, and reasonable patient loads.
Short staffing is taxing us, but it also endangers Highland patients. The short staffing petition is circulating across all departments at Highland because numerous departments are experiencing understaffing.
Healthcare workers are suffering following the traumatic experiences working through COVID-19, and with the short staffing crisis workers are being pushed to their limit. At Highland Hospital in Oakland, CA, we are coming together once again to improve staffing, retain workers, and keep the hospital safe. Of course, we deserve compensation for working extra hours. But in the end, one has to wonder what’s more important – money or time? Payment is not a long-term solution to the underemployment crisis. The first priority is to fill the vacant positions. Highland needs to staff up now!
