Patient care and support workers joined community members this week to call on Loretto Hospital management to make quality care a priority by investing in quality jobs.

Dozens gathered Tuesday outside the hospital to rally and pass out fliers.

“We care about our patients, but when we’re short-staffed, we can’t provide the care that our patients deserve. And when we’re barely paid enough to support our families, we lose a lot of qualified staff,” said phlebotomist Kim Common. “Loretto needs to do better for patients and for the Austin community.”

Patient care and support workers at Loretto united in SEIU Healthcare Illinois are in the process of bargaining their contract; they’re fighting for the staffing ratios necessary for safe, quality care and a raise structure that will put Loretto on the right path to providing good, living wage jobs.

“Loretto needs to do better,” says Alisha Hale, an environmental services worker. “Management needs to make the kind of decisions that will lead keep qualified staff in our hospital, and sustainable jobs in our community.”