More than 1,400 nurses go on strike at 2 USC hospitals in Boyle Heights

BOYLE HEIGHTS, Calif. (KABC) -- Hundreds of unionized Keck Medicine of USC nurses walked off the job and onto the picket lines Thursday amid contract talks.

Registered nurses at Keck Hospital of USC and USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center in Boyle Heights began walking the picket line outside the Keck facility at 1500 San Pablo St. About 1,400 nurses took part in the strike, which was set to last 24 hours, according to the California Nurses Association/National Nurses United.

"We are the frontline nurses of Keck Medicine of USC, caring for patients from across Los Angeles and beyond -- your friends, your family, your neighbors, your loved ones, " Jeong-A Cha, a Keck USC registered nurse, said in a statement.

"Every day and every night, we give our hearts, our skill, and our strength to heal our community," Cha said. "But today, we are being asked to jeopardize the very lives we swore to protect. Keck USC nurses are working under unsafe staffing conditions that violate the most basic standards of patient care."

Keck Medicine officials said its facilities "will remain open and fully staffed with doctors, nurses and all other clinical professionals" during the strike, "as we continue our commitment to exceptional patient care and safety."

"We pride ourselves in consistently upholding state-required nurse staffing ratios," Keck officials said in a statement. "Importantly, our current contract proposal includes an increase in resource staff so nurses can more properly rest and recharge during their shifts. "We remain committed to negotiating in good faith and look forward to collaborative discussions with CNA to reach agreements that are fair, provide competitive pay and benefits, and reflect our dedication and support of our staff."

Keck Medicine declined ABC7's request for an on-camera interview.

The union contends that a lack of resources at Keck and Norris facilities resulted in more than 10,000 missed meal breaks and 4,000 missed rest breaks in 2024, with 4,631 missed meal breaks as of July of this year, and 2,210 missed rest breaks.

"Sometimes, if we don't have recourse nurses, we get behind ourselves in our charting and our work, we have to stay late to finish our charting," said Kerri Dodgens, an RN at Keck Medicine.

USC Keck and Norris nurses have been in labor talks with USC since May, according to the union. The nurses held an informational picket on July 24 and voted to authorize a strike on Aug. 22.

Another significant issue on the table is their own health care benefits.

"That piece made us feel valued. That they cared enough to help provide coverage for our health care for our family while we're giving the health care for others," said Keck Medicine Registered Nurse Valerie Hernandez.

Nurses say they're not only fighting for better conditions at work, but the trickle effect that comes when they go home.

"I'm burnt out when I get home from work. But also results in compassion fatigue. You know, we just, we only have so much that we can give," said Kerri Dodgens, also a Keck Medicine Registered Nurse.

City News Service contributed to this report.