Huge Walkout by 4,000 Sutter RNs - A Dramatic Stand for Improved Patient Care
10-Day Strike Underway Across Bay Area
Some 4,000 registered nurses began a 10-day walkout Friday at 10 Bay Area hospitals operated by the Sutter Health chain in a dramatic protest over patient care conditions.
More than 95 percent of the RNs struck the hospitals. Guaranteeing safe RN staffing at all times – especially ensuring that Sutter RNs are able to take rest breaks and meals -- is one of several key patient safety issues that is at the center of the dispute.
The RNs are also pressing for lift teams to prevent patient falls and accidents and injuries, and assurances that RNs are not improperly assigned to hospital areas where they do not have clinical competency. Additionally, the RNs oppose efforts by Sutter to close hospitals, reduce healthcare benefits for many of the RNs, and they want to enhance retirement security for the RNs.
At a number of the hospitals, Sutter has responded with tactics of harassment and intimidation, said the California Nurses Association/National Nurses Organizing Committee, which represents the RNs.
At Mills-Peninsula Health Services, with hospitals in Burlingame and San Mateo, hospital officials threatened to cut off healthcare coverage for nurses who participate in the walkout. (letter available upon request)
CNA/NNOC said today that it intends to file federal labor charges against the hospital for unilateral changes in the nurses' health benefits, and unlawful discrimination against RNs for federally protected union activity.
CNA/NNOC also charged California Pacific Medical Center officials in San Francisco with engaging in acts of intimidation against RNs. "This disgraceful and unlawful behavior belies Sutter's hypocritical rhetoric that it values and respects its nurses," said Bonnie Castillo, RN, CNA/NNOC's Sutter division director.
On Saturday, March 22, RNs will observe a family day on many of the picket lines with family activities. In addition, a rally is planned at 12 noon, at California Pacific, 3700 California St., in San Francisco.
A number of labor and community leaders and elected officials joined RNs at a noon rally at Alta Bates Summit Medical Center's facility in Oakland Friday.
“This is about when you’re a patient and you push your call light and you’re short of breath, will a nurse come to your bedside right away and give you what you need?” said Alta Bates Summit RN Jan Rodolfo.
“There’s something wrong with this corporation named Sutter. There’s something wrong when they try to nix our nurses from our hospital beds to try to improve their bottom line. We need our nurses," said Art Pulaski, secretary treasurer of the California Labor Federation, AFL-CIO, at the rally. “Our message is take care of our nurses because they’re the only ones in our hospitals who take care of us.”
“We used to have community hospitals. Now we have a large corporate hospital chain, said Assemblymember Loni Hancock. “I am proud to stand with you as a person who will be a patient someday and has been a patient. I need you there, I need you secure, and I need you healthy.”
RNs also held a one-day strike today at the Fremont-Rideout Health Group with facilities in Marysville and Yuba City north of Sacramento.
Sutter picket line addresses:
Sutter Delta Medical Center--3901 Lone Tree Way, Antioch
Mills-Peninsula Health Services, Peninsula Campus--1501 Trousdale Dr., Burlingame
Mills-Peninsula Health Services, Mills Campus--100 South San Mateo Drive, San Mateo
Alta Bates Summit Medical Center, Berkeley Campus--2450 Ashby Ave., Berkeley
Alta Bates Summit Medical Center, Herrick Campus--2001 Dwight Way, Berkeley
Alta Bates Summit, Oakland Campus--350 Hawthorne, Oakland
Eden Medical Center--20103 Lake Chabot Rd., Castro Valley
San Leandro Hospital--13855 East 14th St., San Leandro
St. Luke’s Hospital--3555 Cesar Chavez St., San Francisco
California Pacific Medical Center--3700 California St., San Francisco
Sutter Solano Medical Center--300 Hospital Drive, Vallejo
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