Connect with us

Colorado

Kaiser Permanente workers in Colorado walk out over wages, understaffing concerns amid bargaining

Published

on

Kaiser Permanente workers in Colorado walk out over wages, understaffing concerns amid bargaining


Addressing burnout and understaffing issues were also at the center of talks, according to SEIU Local 105. Many departments have been running short-staffed since before the pandemic, said Stephanie Felix-Sowy, the Colorado chapter’s president. 

“I would say the frustration for frontline health care workers is different than in the past,” she said. “Coming out of a global pandemic and record inflation, things need to change and Kaiser has not addressed that.”

Kaiser acknowledged that a national healthcare worker shortage had hurt its operations, but said it had successfully hired more than 50,000 frontline employees nationally over the past two years, including nearly 10,000 union jobs this year. 

Despite that, union membership has fallen overall in recent years due to an exodus of burned-out workers and people transferring departments, Felix-Sowy said. 

Advertisement

“We don’t know how many of those hires have been specifically in Colorado,” Felix-Sowy said. “We don’t have a breakdown of what positions they are.”

Strikers on the picket line Wednesday said they felt frustrated about burnout and a lack of fair compensation. 

Azua, the 62-year-old patient transporter, started her job with Kaiser a year and a half ago, wheeling patients throughout the Franklin Medical Offices. When she started her job, she had a colleague who helped split the work. But that person left soon after, and managers haven’t hired a replacement, Azua said. 

Matt Bloom/CPR News
Lupe Azua, a Kaiser patient transport, stands outside of the health system’s Franklin Medical Offices in Denver. Azua joined more than 75,000 Kaiser workers across the country during a strike amid contract negotiations with the employer.

“Now it’s just me and it’s hard,” she said. “Sometimes I keep getting called and called and I can’t help because I can’t do the whole building myself.” 

She worries patient care has suffered as a result of staff exhaustion. 

Advertisement

“Everybody is really stressed because it’s the same thing all over,” she said. 

Prior to Wednesday, Kaiser said it would take measures to keep its facilities up and running for patients during the three-day strike. 

Managers reached out directly to patients to reschedule some appointments. In a message to members, Kaiser said its on-call services may experience longer than usual wait times. 

The system also hired contract workers to ensure essential services remained open for members. Pharmacies, flu and COVID-19 vaccine clinics remained ongoing. 

Outside of the Franklin Medical Office in Denver on Wednesday, many patients crossed the picket line for appointments. Aurora resident John-Claude Futrell had a follow-up surgery appointment for his ruptured achilles that he couldn’t miss. 

Advertisement

As he wheeled his way into the clinic, he looked at the picket line and said he’d been happy with his level of care at Kaiser. 

“We have to take care of those that take care of us,” Futrell said. “These are people that take care of us, and if we’re not taking care of them, then who are we?”



Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading
Advertisement
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Colorado

Colorado wildlife officers searching for deer roped into a concerning situation

Published

on

Colorado wildlife officers searching for deer roped into a concerning situation


COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KKTV) -After receiving dozens of reports, Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) is looking for an injured deer that has been tied up by red material.

Residents have spotted the deer in the Gleneagle neighborhood in North El Paso County.

According to CPW, a wildlife officer found it in a residential garage with a deep wound on its backside. They approached the deer before it ran away, and over a neighbor’s fence. CPW says they only intervene if there is a chance the animal will suffocate, strangle, struggle to eat, or see due to the entanglement.

As the holiday season is coming around, wildlife officers are also asking you to consider wildlife safety when decorating for the holidays, advising people not to put lights on trees or bushes.

Advertisement

In a statement from Colorado Parks and Wildlife, they say in part, “Antlered animals like deer and elk naturally shed their antlers each winter, providing a passive way to shed an entanglement. Sedating, immobilizing and handling wild animals can cause stress and injury to the animal, so if there isn’t an immediate health concern, the animal is better off carrying the item instead of removing it.

Updated photos from the Gleneagle community on Monday showed red material around the deer’s front leg. Combined with the visible backside injury, this has increased CPW’s interest in locating this deer…Our officers will continue their efforts to ensure the safest possible response. “

If you spot the deer, you can report it to Colorado Parks and Wildlife at (719) 227-5200.



Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Colorado

Deion Sanders ‘lost for words’ after ‘foolishness’ that went on in another Colorado loss

Published

on

Deion Sanders ‘lost for words’ after ‘foolishness’ that went on in another Colorado loss


Deion Sanders was at a loss for words until he wasn’t.

Speaking to reporters after a one-sided, 36-20 loss to the Houston Cougars on the road on Saturday, the head coach described his reaction, simply saying he didn’t have much to say.

“It wasn’t good. I’m at a loss for words,” Sanders said, acknowledging the unexpected nature of the loss and the performance of his team. “No one could have told me that it was gonna turn out like this.”

Deion Sanders looks on against the Houston Cougars during the first half at TDECU Stadium on September 12, 2025 in Houston, Texas. Getty Images

Sanders has a lot to say. He just won’t. Not at the expense of his team.

Advertisement

“Oh, Lord, thank you. I’m thanking God for not allowing me to say what I want to say,” Sanders said. “It wasn’t good. It wasn’t good at all. I take full responsibility of the foolishness that went on out there that we tried to name football. We tried to call it football. It wasn’t that. We’ve got to do better in every phase of the game. We’ve got to do better preparing our kids. We’ve got to do better, period.”

In the loss, Colorado trailed just 16-14 at halftime before being outscored 20-6 by the Cougars, who rolled to the finish.


Deion Sanders of the Colorado Buffaloes speaks with Ryan Staub #16 of the Colorado Buffaloes during the first half against the Houston Cougars at TDECU Stadium on September 12, 2025 in Houston, Texas.
Deion Sanders speaks with Colorado quarterback Ryan Staub during the first half against the Houston Cougars at TDECU Stadium on September 12, 2025 in Houston, Texas. Getty Images

Sanders later added, “We’re not struggling. We’re getting our butts kicked. You don’t have to be polite with me. You don’t have to sugarcoat it.”

Colorado is just 1-2 on the year, with their only win over a cupcake opponent in Division I FCS foe Delaware, who the Buffaloes routed last week, 31-7.

In their season opener, Colorado dropped a close out to Georgia Tech at home, losing 27-20.

The Buffaloes will look to even their record at 2-2 with a win over Wyoming next week in their return home to Colorado.

Advertisement



Source link

Continue Reading

Colorado

How to Watch Washburn vs Colorado School of Mines: Live Stream CFB

Published

on

How to Watch Washburn vs Colorado School of Mines: Live Stream CFB