This community opinion was contributed by community member Andie Posey. The opinions expressed do not necessarily represent BenitoLink or other affiliated contributors. BenitoLink invites all community members to share their ideas and opinions. By registering as a BenitoLink user in the top right corner of our home page and agreeing to follow our Terms of Use, you can write counter opinions or share your insights on current issues. Lea este articulo en español aquí.

I have had the wonderful experience of working at Hazel Hawkins Memorial Hospital for the last 6 months. I was hired as a temporary employee and now that my contract has ended, I would like to share some observations. Please know that the observations and opinions in this letter are my own. 

The care that is provided by the nursing staff is excellent. They are a cohesive staff that really care about their patients. I was happy to observe how well they worked together and speaking with patients, they also speak highly of nursing care.

In my opinion, it is unfortunate that the California Nurses Association has influenced the nursing staff in such a negative way. The nurses complain and rally in the name of safe patient care and keeping Hazel Hawkins open. While these are noble sentiments, here is the ugly truth. Nurses at Hazel Hawkins made as much as $379,000 per year in 2022 when the average wage for a nurse in California is $118,000 per year. You can find the wages listed on Transparent California. In other parts of the country a nurse’s wage is $80,000 to $100,000 per year. Granted the cost of living in California is double other parts of the country, but not triple. In addition, if a double pay shift is denied, grievances are filed even if the double shift is outside the provision of the nursing contract. Very disingenuous, in my opinion, and sad.

In my opinion, the CNA contract has many provisions for double time and penalty pay that the nurses have learned to manipulate in order to get this higher pay to the detriment of the hospital. Even in bankruptcy, the nurses continued to do this and CNA has led them to believe that this behavior is OK. When the nursing union holds a rally for safe patient care, I call foul. This is hypocrisy at its finest. It is the CNA contract that has contributed significantly to the financial crisis that Hazel Hawkins faced. In fact, at the recent board meeting, a union member complained that management was limiting their ability to get overtime shifts. Keep the doors open and continue to demand outrageous wages and benefits. Shame on you. 

In my opinion, the California Nurses Association tries to interfere with operational issues that impact patient safety initiatives. Recently, a best practice was introduced to improve patient safety and CNA issued a cease-and-desist order. It was stated at the most recent board meeting that the California Board of Nurses had a negative opinion of the practice. Upon researching this on the BON website, it is clear that the BON has issued no position statement on the topic. Clearly,CNA has no desire to improve the care of our patients. Yet again, another hypocrisy.

It is my opinion, dear readers, that CNA has allowed the nurses to believe that they are entitled to grossly bloated wages, outdated pensions and insurance premiums as low as $15 a month. They do not care that the financial burden falls on the health care district and in the post-covid era it is unbearable. 

I have witnessed union members speak publicly at the district board meetings complaining about executive wages, changes in their benefits and criticizing any decision made by the Hazel Hawkins leadership. No solutions or ideas are ever presented. Clearly the union doesn’t like Mary Casillas, CEO. How about helping her do a better job instead of hurling insults and personal attacks at board meets and on social media? How is that productive?

You want to keep Hazel Hawkins doors open? Then be part of the solution. Stop exploiting the contract for your own greed. Stop demanding benefits that are clearly not in line with the rest of the country. Start supporting the executive team and working together to keep Hazel Hawkins, a critical healthcare service, open and able to provide excellent patient care. Because, really, that is the goal: to serve the community of San Benito, not increase the entitlements of union members at the detriment of the hospital.