Rady Children’s Hospital nurses prepare for strike

SAN DIEGO (KGTV) — Nurses gathered at the Teamsters Local 542 hall to make signs and shirts and prepare for Monday, when they plan to strike.

A similar situation prevails in households like the Gaano family’s home, where Michelle Gaano, a mother and nurse, teaches her children important life lessons.

“Many of us are worried,” Gaano said. “Financially, myself included. These are scary times, and I’ve tried to explain it to the kids: It’s an important fight.”

Gaano has been a nurse at Rady Children’s for over 22 years. While she supports better pay for her family of five, she is especially keen on better benefits.

“Our insurance premiums have increased 34% over the past three years since our last decline,” Gaano said.

She says her deductible is $40 for a regular doctor’s visit and rises to $1,000 for a hospital stay.

“I’ve been sent to emergency rooms and community clinics,” Gaano said. “We can’t get treatment at Rady’s, even though I’m employed there, unless we go to the emergency room.”

According to Gaano, the hospital’s final proposal this week includes a slight salary increase but significantly reduces nurses’ retirement benefits.

“We hope we get some respect from the organization for everything we have contributed to the organization. We are not asking for the world,” Gaano said.

ABC 10News contacted Rady Children’s Hospital. In a statement, Rady said, among other things: “The hospital’s recent proposal was fair, equitable, highly competitive and consistent with the stated priorities of union members.”

A nurses’ strike is planned for Monday morning.