Community Support for Beverly RNs Continues to Grow

March 2012

The latest delegations to visit Beverly Hospital in support of Beverly Nurses were led by Father Mike Gutierrez, Pastor of St. John the Baptist Church in Baldwin Park and a Board Member of CLUE (Clergy & Laity United for Economic Justice); and by members of the Communications Workers of America Local 9588.

Both delegations had an important message to deliver: settle a fair contract, including protection so the nurses won’t lose their jobs in the event that the hospital is sold. The delegations also protested the disrespectful comments the hospital made in support of their contract proposal that nurses should wear white uniforms.

The hospital had explained their proposal by saying: “Our community serves elderly Hispanics, and our research shows that Hispanics respect the color white. They will think patient care is better if nurses are wearing white, and our scores will go up.”

Father Gutierrez, joined in his visit to the hospital by Bryan Urias of Congresswoman Judy Chu’s office, said, “I’ve been to Beverly to serve the sick, and I was very concerned about the current state of the negotiations. Unfortunately, a contract still has not been settled and patient care is at risk. Nurses are the front line in health care and they deserve to have updated equipment and a safe working environment.”

CWA President J. Carlos Castillon wrote, in a letter his delegation delivered to Kiff, “We are standing with the Nurses in their quest for quality patient care. Your hospital serves our members, their families and neighbors. Their fight is our fight.” Read CWA’s letter here.

These two recent delegations add to the growing list of organizations and individuals who’ve visited Beverly in support of the nurses, including: California School Employees Association Chapters 348 & 477; Clean Carwash Campaign; Los Angeles County Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO; Montebello Firefighters Association, International Association of Fire Fighters Local 3821; United Food and Commercial Workers Local 1428; Montebello School Board; the Office of Congresswoman Judy Chu; and Mayor Andre Quintero of El Monte.