CHICO, Calif. -- A press conference is being held today, Thursday, January 5, to highlight continuing illegal actions of the Enloe Medical Center Administration. David Vega, a housekeeper for four years at Enloe, was illegally fired after providing management a videotape documenting repeated episodes of improperly disposed of biohazard waste that posed a threat to the health and safety of patients and workers throughout the hospital.
Two co-workers, outraged at the hospital's response, were then illegally suspended without pay for five days after attempting to meet with management about the situation. "All I did was ask for fairness for my co-worker, and Enloe responded in the most unfair way, said Bev Erickson, a sterile processing tech at Enloe and one of the suspended workers. "Losing five days of pay is really hard for me and my family, and it couldn't have come at a worse time because of the holidays."
For more than a year, hundreds of Enloe Medical Center's caregivers and support staff have been struggling to improve patient care and working conditions at the hospital. Two years ago service employees voted to join SEIU United Healthcare Workers-West. After repeated attempts by the Enloe administration to delay certification, the election was certified by the NLRB in August, 2005 and SEIU-UHW was legally recognized as their bargaining representative. Since then, SEIU asserts, management at Enloe has continued to refuse to acknowledge the union or go to the bargaining table, and has racked up numerous unfair labor practice charges since September 2005. Because the terminated employee and the two who were suspended were not allowed union representation at the time they were disciplined, Enloe's actions against them were in effect illegal, according to the SEIU. "At Enloe we still don't have a voice in our work and when we try to stand up for issues of safety and patient care we're retaliated against," said GI tech James Harro, the second worker suspended for speaking out against the firing.
SEIU United Healthcare Workers-West, with more than 140,000 members, is the largest and most powerful healthcare union in the Western U.S. The union represents every type of healthcare worker, including nursing, professional, technical and service classifications.
Source: SEIU United Healthcare Workers-West
Stay prepared and protected with Infection Control Today's newsletter, delivering essential updates, best practices, and expert insights for infection preventionists.
Reducing Hidden Risks: Why Sharps Injuries Still Go Unreported
July 18th 2025Despite being a well-known occupational hazard, sharps injuries continue to occur in health care facilities and are often underreported, underestimated, and inadequately addressed. A recent interview with sharps safety advocate Amanda Heitman, BSN, RN, CNOR, a perioperative educational consultant, reveals why change is overdue and what new tools and guidance can help.
New Study Explores Oral Vancomycin to Prevent C difficile Recurrence, But Questions Remain
July 17th 2025A new clinical trial explores the use of low-dose oral vancomycin to prevent Clostridioides difficile recurrence in high-risk patients taking antibiotics. While the data suggest a possible benefit, the findings stop short of statistical significance and raise red flags about vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE), underscoring the delicate balance between prevention and antimicrobial stewardship.
The Next Frontier in Infection Control: AI-Driven Operating Rooms
Published: July 15th 2025 | Updated: July 15th 2025Discover how AI-powered sensors, smart surveillance, and advanced analytics are revolutionizing infection prevention in the OR. Herman DeBoard, PhD, discusses how these technologies safeguard sterile fields, reduce SSIs, and help hospitals balance operational efficiency with patient safety.
CDC Urges Vigilance: New Recommendations for Monitoring and Testing H5N1 Exposures
July 11th 2025With avian influenza A(H5N1) infections surfacing in both animals and humans, the CDC has issued updated guidance calling for aggressive monitoring and targeted testing to contain the virus and protect public health.
A Helping Hand: Innovative Approaches to Expanding Hand Hygiene Programs in Acute Care Settings
July 9th 2025Who knew candy, UV lights, and a college kid in scrubs could double hand hygiene adherence? A Pennsylvania hospital’s creative shake-up of its infection prevention program shows that sometimes it takes more than soap to get hands clean—and keep them that way.