St. John’s Nursing Strike Talks Stall Over Staffing Issue

Negotiations yesterday failed to resolve the two-week-old nurses' strike at St. John's Regional Medical Center in Oxnard and Pleasant Valley Hospital in Camarillo, the Ventura County Star reports. The talks "once again ... foundered" on the question of staffing levels. The union seeks nurse-to-patient ratios "developed by registered nurses from each hospital department." St. John's COO Charles Padilla, however, maintains that staffing decisions are the "sole responsibility" of the hospital. "They wanted to talk about a pay proposal and we wanted to talk about staffing," Pleasant Valley emergency room nurse Chris Slane said, adding, "We've told them all along this isn't just about money, it's about making sure there are staffing levels that are safe." Talks will continue through tomorrow (Koehler, Ventura County Star, 12/20).