HCA Healthcare staff demand better wages and staffing as company posts $6.8bn profit: 'I'm barely getting by'

Nurses, technicians, and support staff at HCA Healthcare

Nurses, technicians, and support staff at HCA Healthcare, America's biggest private hospital chain, are taking to the streets in a wave of picket lines from coast to coast, seeking a fresh labor agreement that addresses chronic understaffing and wages that haven't kept pace with inflation.

The protests, organized by the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), involve about 22,000 of HCA's 300,000-plus U.S. employees. Their demands include a clear route to a $25-per-hour minimum pay, more transparent salary scales, and cost-of-living adjustments, alongside guaranteed paid leave, sick days, and stronger workplace protections.

For many workers, the urgency is personal. Maria Delgado, a patient care technician in a Miami HCA hospital, told reporters that despite working full-time, she relies on food banks to feed her family. 'I'm struggling to make rent, and I've had to skip meals so my kids can eat,' she said. 'The company posts billions in profit, but we can't afford basic groceries.'

HCA reported a staggering $6.8 billion in profits

HCA reported a staggering $6.8 billion in profits last year, yet its workers say their paychecks tell a different story. According to SEIU, the average HCA worker earns roughly $18 an hour, with many in the South making less, while the company has spent millions on executive bonuses and shareholder dividends.

HCA executives counter that they have offered competitive compensation packages, including wage increases and retention bonuses, and that negotiations are ongoing. The company also notes that it has invested in training programs and technology to ease staffing pressures, but union leaders argue these measures haven't addressed the root causes of burnout and turnover.

As contract talks continue, the picket lines have drawn public sympathy, with local politicians and community groups voicing support. For the workers, the message is clear: they want a fair share of the profits they help generate. 'We're not asking for a handout,' said James Okonkwo, an ICU nurse in Nashville. 'We're asking for the respect and resources that reflect our value.'

The standoff highlights a growing national debate over

The standoff highlights a growing national debate over corporate healthcare profits versus patient care quality, and the results of these negotiations could set a precedent for thousands of hospital workers across the country.