SEIU Local 49 members to Oregon Legislators: We Need Safe Staffing Now!
“Our staffing problems precede the Covid-19 pandemic and the ‘Great Resignation.’ A real legislative solution to protect both workers and patients is long overdue... We have been fighting for safe staffing since I started working at Kaiser in 2017, and we need a real solution to address the full scope of the problem throughout our healthcare system. House Bill 2697 includes the protections that workers and patients need.”
—Wally Walls
Patient Access Specialist, Kaiser Permanente
Sergeant at Arms, SEIU Local 49
SEIU 49 members returned to Salem on February 28 to deliver public testimony supporting HB 2697 and demanding our elected lawmakers take action. Healthcare workers from hospital systems throughout Oregon took a stand at the Capitol to express the need for legislation addressing the staffing crisis impacting both workers and patients. When passed, the bill would define staffing ratios as well as ensuring workers have a voice in the process at their worksites in order to provide the best possible patient care.
“No one in healthcare is here because it’s ‘just a job.’ Whether it’s a food service worker delivering food, or a CNA helping to feel patients, or environmental services workers cleaning patient rooms, we’re all here because we care for the people in our community. We’re not doing this for the money. We actually care for all patients, even those that hit us and attack us, even when our hospitals are overwhelmed with patients and we’re desperately short‐staffed, we know that patients are vulnerable and they’re depending on us to treat them the right way, keep a clean environment, and provide them with the food and treatment they need to heal. Healthcare workers are truly a special kind of people, but we need the protection of safe staffing to ensure we can continue to do this work that we love.”
—Lorie Quinn
Environmental Services Tech I, PeaceHealth Sacred Heart
Vice President of Healthcare, SEIU Local 49
“When my department is understaffed, it’s overwhelming. You might be one of two CNAs to a floor or even be assigned a whole floor to yourself. My co-workers and I try to do our best but under those conditions we can’t provide true “care” for patients – understaffing means we have to prioritize patient safety above all else. Providence Milwaukie Hospital is a smaller community hospital and many of our patients are older people more prone to fall. So we prioritize preventing patient falls but when we’re more likely to make mistakes when we’re rushing around trying to take care of everybody.”
—Julia Schafer
Health Unit Coordinator, Providence Milwaukie Hospital
