Dozens Of Medical Technicians Receive Layoff Notices, But Santa Rosa Hospital Says Decision Is Not A Done Deal
The hospital wants to work with the union to readjust shifts, but the union said the hospital is using the threat of layoffs to strong-arm employee concessions.
Santa Rosa Press Democrat:
Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital Issues Layoff Notices To About 45 Medical Technicians
Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital has given layoff notices to 45 medical technicians, including more than two dozen union- represented nursing assistants who provide direct bedside care such as bathing and feeding patients and helping them to the bathroom. Officials said the hospital is looking for ways to avoid the layoffs, including changing from eight-hour to 12-hour shifts for nursing assistants to match schedules for registered nurses. The layoff notices issued last week were done in accordance with legal and labor contract requirements, Memorial spokeswoman Vanessa DeGier said. (Espinoza, 6/8)
In other news —
Santa Rosa Press Democrat:
Sonoma County Quietly Accepts Resignation Of Mental Health Director
Michael Kennedy, who was director of Sonoma County’s mental health services division for nearly a decade before he went on paid administrative leave in early March, resigned from his position more than five weeks ago after brokering a settlement deal with the county governing terms of his exit. The details of his resignation and the settlement deal came to light this week through a public records request filed by The Press Democrat. His job status had been in question since his leave began March 5, shortly after his superiors in the Department of Health Services backed off a controversial proposal to dramatically reduce its mental health and substance abuse staff by nearly 32 positions to partly close a $2.6 million budget gap. (Espinoza, 6/8)