DETROIT – Doctors and physician assistants at a hospital on Detroit’s east side went on strike Thursday, April 18.
At about 2 p.m., they walked out of the emergency rooms and into the picket line outside.
Background: Frustrations over staffing levels may lead ER workers at Ascension St. John to strike
They said the strike at Ascension St. John Hospital is not just a matter of money, but its main focus is on working conditions. The union for those striking doctors said there’s a lack of properly trained workers in the emergency room.
“I’ll tell you, a lot of tears were shed this morning,” said Dr. John Bahling. “Nobody wanted this, but we’re begging for help.”
“We’re striking against unfair labor practices,” said Casey Kolp. “Some of these practices -- most of these practices directly impact patient safety.”
The strike came after a breakdown of negotiations that both parties saw coming. In the first week of April, physicians, doctors and others within Ascension hospitals gave notice a strike could happen.
“Currently they have all the doctors locked out. What it says is that the people with the most power in the hospital -- and that’s your doctors -- are standing up for the people that maybe can’t stand up for themselves,” Bahling said.
Allies from multiple unions also joined in to show their solidarity. All agree There are a few key issues, but some of the key problem seems to be a lack of properly trained workers in the emergency room which ultimately leads to longer wait times for the patients.
“We’ve had enough. How many more patient lives do we have to put at risk by being short-staffed, by having 16 or 17-hour wait times, by letting these patients sit out there scared? How much longer are we going to take this?” Kolp asked.
Ascension said they have “a comprehensive contingency plan in place” to ensure that patient services will be uninterrupted.