<body><div><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=1Eet46_0n8xwfoh00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=1Eet46_0n8xwfoh00" width="1900" height="1069" ></figure>AUSTIN, Texas — Ascension Seton nurses are currently preparing for a historic nurse’s strike. On Monday dozens of nurses gathered to make posters and picket signs ahead of their walkout planned for Tuesday outside of Ascension Seaton Medical Center.The move is unprecedented as it will make the largest registered nurse strike in Texas history. Ascension Seton nurses who are members of the National Nurses United Union tell CBS Austin after months of asking for better working conditions they don’t feel management is taking their concerns seriously, so they are now taking matters into their own hands.Jessica Gripentrog is a part of the 98% of nurses who voted for the one-day walkout due to failed labor negotiations."We're doing this so that when you come into the hospital and you're a patient, you get the care you deserve. There’s not enough of us to provide adequate care to our patients which is what they deserve,” said Gripentrog.Jessica Gripentrog has been a nurse for eight years and worked at Ascension Seton for two years. She says the poor nurse-to-patient ratios are leaving healthcare workers overwhelmed and are creating an unsafe environment for those admitted into Ascension Seton.“We became nurses because we love to care for people, and we want to take care of them and set them up for a better future. These are a part of our values. We want to be kind, we want to give back to our community and it seems like Ascension does not relate to our values, ” she said.She’s calling for better nurse retention and would like to see the hospital create a safe place where workers can bring concerns to management by establishing a nursing practice council.“That way, if we're noticing where nurses are getting hurt on the job, maybe they're hurting their backs because we don't have the right training equipment. We can go to the professional nursing practice and say we want to invest in some equipment that's going to help us do our job better. But Ascension doesn't allow us to have a say. They make changes at the top and it dictates how we're able to follow through and provide care to our patients," Gripentrog said.In a statement, Ascension Seton says:<blockquote>While as a ministry of the Catholic Church, we affirm the right of our associates to organize, we are disappointed that National Nurses United made the decision to proceed with a strike, especially given the hardship this presents for our associates and their families, and the concern this action may cause our patients and their loved ones.Patient safety is our top priority, and Ascension Seton Medical Center Austin is open and well-prepared to continue to provide patient-centered, holistic care during this unfortunate strike. We have a comprehensive plan in place to ensure there is no disruption in service for those who are entrusted to our care.Ascension Seton Medical Center Austin is following national best practices for implementing a strike contingency plan that is compliant with The Joint Commission, OSHA, and the Centers for Medicare &amp; Medicaid Services. In order to fulfill our commitment to uninterrupted quality care for our patients, we have contracted with a staffing agency that specializes in work stoppage events and has provided us with a full complement of highly skilled and credentialed registered nurses.Regardless of the planned duration of this disappointing strike, we are contractually required to commit to a minimum of four days of work for any registered nursing staff replaced, starting from the first day of the strike. Ascension Seton Medical Center Austin registered nurses who chose to work on June 27, 2023, were not replaced and may work their regularly scheduled shifts during the contractual replacement period. Any registered nurse who chose not to work on June 27, 2023, was temporarily replaced and will be able to return to their scheduled shifts beginning the morning of July 1, 2023, as soon as our replacement agency's contractual obligation is fulfilled. This decision is guided by our commitment to safe, high-quality, compassionate care for our patients, and our fidelity to the virtue of justice and the appropriate stewardship of resources.Notwithstanding this disheartening strike, we will continue to negotiate in good faith to come to a mutually beneficial agreement on an initial contract that respects the human dignity and rights of all. We look forward to returning the focus to resolving issues at the bargaining table and reaching an agreement on a fair and reasonable collective bargaining agreement for our registered nurses.</blockquote>“I’m disappointed in the decision Ascension is making,” said registered nurse Monica Gonzalez.Monica Gonzales has been a nurse at Ascension Seton for nearly two decades. She says multiple suggestions brought to management have been overlooked. To ensure there are no service disruptions, the hospital has retained outside nurses but contractually they have to work at least four days which means nurses on strike can’t work again until July 1st.“We filed for a one-day strike. And we gave a 10-day notice. With those 10 days, it's a time period for essentially management to come to the bargaining table and work on a fair contract. Instead of doing that, they have decided to retaliate against the nurses and lock us out. You don't have to do that; you could come to the table and work on these contracts. They could cancel their contract, pay them, and still come to the table or let the nurses that actually work here that know this hospital know these patients return to work and instead they are slamming the door in our face,” said González.</div></body>

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Ascension Seton nurses plan largest RN strike in Texas history

AUSTIN, Texas — Ascension Seton nurses are currently preparing for a historic nurse’s strike. On Monday dozens of nurses gathered to make posters and picket signs ahead of their walkout planned for Tuesday outside of Ascension Seaton Medical Center. The move is unprecedented as it will make the...