Jobs to be eliminated in restructuring at Oxnard, Camarillo hospitals

More than 30 employees at St. John’s hospitals in Oxnard and Camarillo have been told their positions will be eliminated next month in what a hospital representative called a restructuring, not a reduction.

The 30-day notices were issued Monday, workers said. A spokesman for SEIU-United Healthcare Workers West said notices were given to 23 members of the union that represents a range of employees including certified nursing assistants, technicians and other employees outside of registered nurses. CNAs have not been targeted in the jobs reduction.

Of the affected workers, 18 are from St. John’s Regional Medical Center in Oxnard and the others from St. John’s Pleasant Valley in Camarillo.

Additionally, at least eight nurses from SEIU Local 121RN have also been told by the hospitals their jobs would be eliminated in a month, said Adriane Carrier, a nurse and steward at St. John’s Regional.

Efforts will be made to move affected workers to other positions, said Megan Maloney, spokeswoman for the hospitals.

"It is a restructure," she said Friday morning. "It is not a reduction in force."

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Terry Carter, spokeswoman for the nurses' union, said the 30-day notices are required for eliminated positions, allowing the two sides to meet and negotiate.

“There have been times when we’ve been able to walk back some or even all proposed layoffs,” she said.

Carter said the nurses have requested more details about the changes and held a preliminary meeting Wednesday with management.

“We’re still learning what’s really happening and what might be saved,” Carter said.

The two hospitals are part of Dignity Health, which merged this year with Catholic Health Initiatives to form the massive CommonSpirit Health that operates 142 hospitals in 21 states.

MORE:St. John's nurses call off planned strike, agree to tentative contract

The news of local job reductions comes a week after reports CommonSpirit Health laid off employees in California and Arkansas. A Sacramento Bee story reported the cuts affected 109 workers.

Dignity Health media representatives didn't respond to a request for a number on last week's cuts. Maloney said the majority of the system's cuts were also part of a restructuring and efforts were made to find different jobs for employees.

The changes come amid signs of financial issues. Newly merged CommonSpirit reported in October its total operating loss for fiscal year 2019 was $582 million, including special charges and merger-related costs.

During a merger process that was finalized early this year, St. John's hospital leaders said no labor force reductions were expected. Maloney emailed a statement Thursday that referenced changing demands for health care.

MORE: Massive merger involving St. John's hospitals sows nurses' anxiety about staffing, budgets

“We continuously assess our organization to assure we are positioned to meet the needs of our patients today and in the future,” she said.

In a written statement issued Thursday, nurse union steward Carrier referenced meetings involving union leaders and management.

"Our bottom line in these early discussions is to preserve patient safety and services and to minimize any staffing cuts. We are already operating on bare-bones staffing levels in many of our units," she said, adding the nurses have also asked for a meeting with management to discuss planned cuts of support staff.

Sean Wherley, spokesman for United Health Care Workers West, also emailed a statement calling for executive salaries to be reined in. He predicted any labor force reductions will be felt by more than employees and their families.

“Cuts to caregivers will hurt patient care,” he said.

WATCH:Union nurses protest at St. John's Pleasant Valley Hospital

Tom Kisken covers health care and other news for the Ventura County Star. Reach him at tom.kisken@vcstar.com or 805-437-0255.