A sea of red shirts and picket signs surrounded either side of Esplanade in Chico today.
The display was by hundreds of nurses who work at Enloe Medical Center and gathered to garner support for more nurses at the hospital.
The nurses union is part of the California Nurses Association.
Lisa Ceynowa is with Enloe's medical neurological unit, and is on the union’s bargaining team.
“I hope that when they see the determination of all the nurses out here on the Esplanade, wearing red up and down the street on both sides, as well as inside the hospital,” she said. “They can see our focus and determination on providing the excellent patient care that our patients deserve.”
Nurses are demanding the hospital improve its recruitment of more staff and are calling for better retainment of nurses – a demand that’s part of the contract in negotiation.
Ceynowa says more staff would relieve nurses, allowing more focus on patient care.
“Today, I hope that management and the community are able to see the focus of our nurses on providing excellent patient care and ensuring that we can make positive steps towards reaching that in the future,” she said.
Renee Souza, a rehab nurse, at the hospital says both the nurses and organization are wonderful, but some changes are needed.
“We just want to kind of do a little bit better of a job for this town," she said.
Ceynowa says the union is working with the hospital’s management for a quick resolution to contract bargaining.
The next bargaining meeting will be on Sept. 3.
