Kaiser Permanente nurses in the Bay Area are rallying against impending layoffs, saying the job cuts to an already stretched-thin workforce could leave patients vulnerable.
The layoffs, which are set to take effect in October, will eliminate 41 nursing positions and one art therapist role at Kaiser’s San Rafael Medical Center, according to Monday WARN filings with California’s Employment Development Department (WARN documents are generally required by the state for significant layoffs). The staff reductions also include two employees in Oakland, one in Pasadena, four in Corona and eight in Pleasanton, mostly in IT consultant, engineer and environmental health specialist roles.
On Thursday afternoon, members of the California Nurses Association, the union that represents the terminated workers, held a protest against the layoffs at the San Rafael center. Though Pam Cronin’s position was not terminated, the San Rafael nurse told SFGATE she attended with more than 100 others and described the gathering’s overwhelming emotion as “just shock.”…