San Dimas Community Hospital has made the decision to close the Obstetrics Department as of October 16, 2023. This is displacing 17 registered nurses. The hospital is stating they are not laying us off because they are offering us jobs in other units of the hospital. Obstetrics is a specialty unit that is composed of Labor and Delivery, newborn nursery and post partum. We hold different certifications then any other units in the hospital.  Our job description is unique to our department. Therefore we are being forced to find jobs elsewhere. In April the registered nurses unionized with SEIU 121. We formed this union because we are concerned about patient safety, safe staffing ratios and to be paid a competitive wage. We are one of the lowest paid hospitals in the area. We wanted to have a voice that would be heard and supported. Since we ratified our contract we did see many positive improvements, pay being one of them. Although we are still very underpaid we were happy for the increase. In our contract it states that if there is a reduction in workforce, elimination of a position, or a lay off the hospital would have to bargain a severance package. We proposed a fair package and were denied. The hospital states that we are not being laid off and this is an untraditional lay off. They are refusing to bargain. We send the proposal’s, they just say NO. This is unfair. We deserve a severance package. We have been dedicated, loyal, hardworking employees with great customer service. We have been part of  huge milestones for many families. We love and will miss our patients dearly . Because they are offering jobs in their medical surgical unit, ER and ICU they feel we are not deserving of any severance. To make it simple it would be like asking a Doctor who’s a Cardiologist to now be a Pediatrician. Just because they are both doctors doesn’t mean they can do that job. We are asking our community to help us fight for what is fair. If you have been touched by an OB nurse, especially if it was one of us here at San Dimas Community Hospital please sign in support of us getting the severance we rightfully deserve. Thank you.