Pictured above are nurses locked out by the San Pedro Peninsula Hospital, which is owned by the Little Company, protesting outside the San Pedro Chamber of Commerce Annual Luncheon where the hospital was honored with Business of the Year Award.The Hospital's CEO, Nancy Carlson is pictured below. Photos by Terelle Jerricks

Little Co. of Mary Resort to Strong-arm Tactics in Labor Dispute

CEO was Awarded Business of the Year by the San Pedro Chamber

By Megan Barnes, Reporter and Terelle Jerricks, Managing Editor

On the same day Providence Little Company of Mary Medical Center CEO Nancy Carlson was awarded Business of the Year at the San Pedro Chamber of Commerce Annual Luncheon, the hospital’s nurses were locked out of work June 10 despite withdrawing a strike notice the previous day.

More than 150 nurses, ILWU members and supporters rallied outside the hospital at 1:30 p.m. after a small group of protesters gathered outside the San Pedro DoubleTree Hotel earlier in the day, where Carlson was honored.

The nurses initially planned to strike in solidarity with 23,000 Minnesota and University of California nurses over staffing conditions, but rescinded its strike notice on June 9. They came to work the next day as usual when they were turned away and told to return June 15.

A press release from the California Nurses Association said the nurses were “unlawfully locked out.”

Carlson would not grant interviews, but issued a statement attributing the 5-day lockout to short-term contracts made with replacement nurses in anticipation of the strike.

“It would be fiscally irresponsible to pay our staff when we have already paid for their replacements,” she said. “Our nurses were told (in writing, well in advance) that we would respect their right to call for a strike, and that the unavoidable result would be the need to replace them for this 5-day minimum.”

The lockout came amid contract negotiations that have continued since late January. The nurses have been working without a contract since March 31.

Among issues at the bargaining table are the inclusion of a “zero lift” policy which would require the hospital to purchase equipment that assist patient transfer in order to prevent 50 percent of work-related injuries, realistic scheduling that allows for breaks and meals, a wage proposal that may penalize experienced nurses, and the written inclusion of the hospital’s successful H1N1 response plan.

“If its not in writing and in policy, they can change it anytime. We want to guarantee [the H1N1 plan] stays in place,” said Cynthia Hanna, the CNA labor representative for San Pedro, who also said the nurses received no official communication about the lockout.

Hanna said the hospital schedules breaks so narrowly that nurses often have to choose between taking a break and burdening co-workers with their patients.

“It puts the patient in danger,” she said. “Nurses are patient advocates and the proposed conditions are unsafe.”

Hanna, who was among protesters outside the DoubleTree hotel, said Carlson did not speak with them upon arrival, but that Councilwoman Janice Hahn expressed surprise upon learning the nurses had been working without a contract, saying Carlson had warned her of a strike, but assured her a contract had been reached.

“They’re putting out misinformation,” Hanna said. “They’re lying to the public, and to public officials.”

In her statement, Carlson said the hospital remains in operation and that she hopes a contract can be reached.

“We continue to bargain in good faith with the goal of reaching a contract agreement that is good for our employees and good for our community,” she said.

Another rally is planned for June 11 at noon outside the hospital.