SVMHS PROTESTS BUYOUT OFFERS 10-22-10 07:30 a.v.
About 40 employees from Salinas Valley Memorial Healthcare System were picketing a round of voluntary buyout offers yesterday afternoon. The layoffs, which are part of a cost-saving move, are expected to affect about 165 union workers. A longtime vocational nurse with S-V-M-H-S says staff members are already overworked, and the quality of patient care could drastically decline. Meanwhile, the Vice President of Operations for S-V-M-H-S stressed that the quality of care will not be affected and they plan on moving forward with the buyout offers.