From the frontlines to the picket lines
For nearly two decades, Yvonne Mosley, a certified nursing assistant (CNA), has devoted her life to providing care to patients at PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center in Vancouver, Wash. But her dedication has come at a cost. That’s why she is one of hundreds of striking healthcare workers at PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center and PeaceHealth St. John Medical Center in Longview fighting for a better contract.
“Several things got me out on the picket line,” says Mosley, who is a member of the Oregon Federation of Nurses and Health Professionals. Staffing has been a persistent issue. Mosley’s experience working in the float pool has taught her that some managers understand the importance of adequate staffing, while others seem indifferent to the CNAs’ struggles. At times, CNAs have to juggle between eight to 20 patients, a care ratio that doesn’t work for anyone. “I work the float pool, and the reason why I stayed in float pool so long is because if I had a bad day on one unit, I could ask not to go back,” she says.
Mosley had to cut back on her hours, despite initially working grueling 16-hour shifts as a single parent to support her children. It’s a painful reality that many healthcare workers face: They’re asked to do more in less time, leaving them feeling like they’ve only provided the bare minimum care, often going home in tears.
“It makes me feel bad,” says Mosley. I’ve always felt like whatever I did, it was not enough because there was not enough time. Sometimes I would go in there crying and come home crying,” she says. “There’s no way we can give them the care they deserve. And it’s like they [management] don’t even care just as long as there’s a body there. I don’t know how to explain, I just feel burned out.”
PeaceHealth’s mission, of “promoting personal and community health, relieving pain and suffering, and treating each person in a loving and caring way,” is an imaginary one, says Mosley. “It’s not going to happen without change.
“Our mission is to be heard. Our mission is to be respected. Our mission is better pay and better staffing. That’s our mission,” Mosley says. That’s why she and her colleagues are on the picket lines. It’s a show of strength and unity and a testament to their determination for change.
As a single mother who worked grueling hours to support her family, she knows the struggles women face when they’re the primary breadwinners. She’s determined to see change.
“I’ve been doing this for 28 years. The first 10 years, I was at a hospital in Klamath Falls, Ore. I was a single mother working 16-hour shifts. I was getting [Social Security] survivors benefits after my husband died. If it hadn’t been for that survivors benefit on top of what the hospital was paying me at that time, we never would have made it.”
For Mosley, the strike is about more than just healthcare; it’s about fairness, respect and the promise of a better future for all.
Mosley is advocating for a world where women can work, earn a decent living, and have time for their families. She believes the union is the key to achieving this change. “I’m glad to be a part of the union. I’m glad that someone has a voice for me when nobody else will listen. It’s an honor to be picketing. It lets them know how strong we are.”
For Mosley, the strike is about more than just healthcare; it’s about fairness, respect and the promise of a better future for all. “I keep coming back to the job every day because I’m a caregiver. I love to take care of people. My patients come first. That’s compassionate care. I want to do what I love to do. But I want to be valued, and I want to feel respected, too.”
This story was written by AFT communications specialist Adrienne Coles. Want to see more stories like this? Subscribe to AFT e-newsletters.
