WHEREAS:

Workers in U.S. hospitals, nursing homes, and other health care facilities are under increasing pressure from privatization, consolidation, and profit-hungry providers and insurers. Cost containment is happening on the backs of health care workers and at the expense of quality patient care; and

WHEREAS:

Research shows that inadequate staffing levels are linked to hospital-acquired infections, patient falls, re-admissions, and other indicators of poor quality; and

WHEREAS:

Inadequate staffing leads to higher worker injuries, especially back injuries and needlestick injuries; and

WHEREAS:

Inadequately trained staff are often unable to perform important duties and monitor patients appropriately, and temporary staff, mandatory overtime, and floating exacerbate these problems; and

WHEREAS:

The growth of major for-profit corporations and managed care focuses concern on the bottom line rather than quality and access for all.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED:

That AFSCME and affiliates work together, when possible, with health care employers like Kaiser Permanente to resolve issues in true partnership, and engage in joint efforts such as the Nurse Quality Indicator Project, which measures the importance of nurses to quality patient outcomes; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:

That AFSCME continue to support "whistleblower" legislation, safe staffing legislation, curbs on mandatory overtime, and the misuse of temporary workers; and

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED:

That AFSCME continue to work in coalition with patients, families, and patient advocacy organizations to enact legislation and fight for collective bargaining agreements that promote quality patient care and improve the working conditions of health care workers.

SUBMITTED BY:

Kathy Sackman, Secretary-Treasurer and Delegate
NUHHCE/AFSCME Local 1199
Barbara Blake, State Secretary
NUHHCE/AFSCME Local 1199
California