Nurses plan strike at NorCal Sutter Health facilities on Monday


Nurses plan strike at NorCal Sutter Health facilities on Monday

NURSES AND HEALTH CARE WORKERS ARE PREPARING TO STRIKE TOMORROW. THIS IS AT 15 SUTTER HEALTH FACILITIES ACROSS NORTHERN CALIFORNIA. THE ONE DAY STRIKE INVOLVES MORE THAN 8,000 WORKERS. THE CALIFORNIA NURSES ASSOCIATION SAYS SUTTER REFUSES TO ADDRESS THEIR PROPOSALS ABOUT SAFE STAFFING AND HEALTH PROTECTIONS. THE UNION SAYS WORKERS HAVE ENBE IN NEGOTIATISON SINCE JUNE 2021 FOR A NEW CONTRACT. AMONG THE BIGGEST ISSUES ON THE TABLE ARE PANDEMIC PROTECTIONS, SUCH AS PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT AND CONTACT TRACING. SHORT STAFFING, ANHID SALARIES TO RETAIN EXPERIENCED NURSES, AND PROPER TRAINING. WE REACHED OUT TO SUTTER HEATH TO HEAR THEIR PERSPECTIVE. THEY SAY THEY DO OER COMPETITIVE WAGES AND PANDEMIC PROTTIS.EC THEY ALSO SAY NEGOTIATIONS HAVE RESUMED WITH A FEDERAL MEDTOIA AND THEY HOPE THE UNION WILL CALL OFF THE STRIKE. SAYING, “WE REMAIN COMMITTED TO

Thousands of nurses plan to strike at dozens of Sutter Health facilities on Monday

Thousands of nurses and health care workers for Sutter Health are preparing to go on strike on Monday over safe staffing issues.After monthslong negotiations without coming to an agreement, over 8,000 staff are expected to do a one-day strike at 15 Sutter Health locations across Northern California, according to the California Nurses Association.The union that represents thousands of nurses across California said the health facility refuses to address its proposals about safe staffing and pandemic-related health protections. “Nurses overwhelmingly voted to go out on strike because we see no other option left for us and our patients,” said Amy Erb, an RN who works in Critical Care at California Pacific Medical Center. “We have tried repeatedly to address the chronic and widespread problem of short staffing that causes delays in care and potentially puts patients at risk, but hospital administrators continue to ignore us. We have a moral and legal obligation to advocate for our patients. We advocate for them at the bedside, at the bargaining table, and if we have to, on the strike line.”The union said workers have been in negotiations since June 2021 for a new contract. Among the biggest issues on the table is pandemic protections, such as personal protective equipment, contact tracing, short staffing and high salaries to retain experienced nurses.“We are striking because Sutter is not transparent about the stockpile of PPE supplies and contact tracing,” said Renee Waters, a trauma neuro intensive care RN. “They resist having nurses directly involved in planning and implementation of policies that affect all of us during a pandemic.” Sutter Health told KCRA 3 in a statement it does offer competitive wages and pandemic protections. It also said negotiations have resumed with a federal mediator. Sutter Health said it hopes the union will call off the strike. Read the full statement:“Despite resuming negotiations with the involvement of a federal mediator, the California Nurses Association (CNA) has refused to call off their strike beginning 7 a.m. Monday. Work stoppages at 18 of our sites – even for a single day — require complex and costly preparation, and obligate us to make plans that our teams, patients and communities can rely on. Given the uncertainty of a looming strike, and in order to provide surety for our patients, communities and care teams, we will staff our hospitals on Monday with the contracted replacement workers where needed. We hope the CNA union will call off this strike so our nurses can return to work and do what they do best — care for our patients. We remain committed to continue bargaining as long as negotiations are progressing effectively toward averting the strike.” Sutter Health also released its labor fact sheet, which outlines its “investments and commitment to employees.” Find a full list of the facilities where nurses and staff plan to strike here.This is a developing story, stay with KCRA 3 for the latest.

Thousands of nurses and health care workers for Sutter Health are preparing to go on strike on Monday over safe staffing issues.

After monthslong negotiations without coming to an agreement, over 8,000 staff are expected to do a one-day strike at 15 Sutter Health locations across Northern California, according to the California Nurses Association.

The union that represents thousands of nurses across California said the health facility refuses to address its proposals about safe staffing and pandemic-related health protections.

“Nurses overwhelmingly voted to go out on strike because we see no other option left for us and our patients,” said Amy Erb, an RN who works in Critical Care at California Pacific Medical Center. “We have tried repeatedly to address the chronic and widespread problem of short staffing that causes delays in care and potentially puts patients at risk, but hospital administrators continue to ignore us. We have a moral and legal obligation to advocate for our patients. We advocate for them at the bedside, at the bargaining table, and if we have to, on the strike line.”

The union said workers have been in negotiations since June 2021 for a new contract. Among the biggest issues on the table is pandemic protections, such as personal protective equipment, contact tracing, short staffing and high salaries to retain experienced nurses.

“We are striking because Sutter is not transparent about the stockpile of PPE supplies and contact tracing,” said Renee Waters, a trauma neuro intensive care RN. “They resist having nurses directly involved in planning and implementation of policies that affect all of us during a pandemic.”

Sutter Health told KCRA 3 in a statement it does offer competitive wages and pandemic protections. It also said negotiations have resumed with a federal mediator.

Sutter Health said it hopes the union will call off the strike.

Read the full statement:

“Despite resuming negotiations with the involvement of a federal mediator, the California Nurses Association (CNA) has refused to call off their strike beginning 7 a.m. Monday. Work stoppages at 18 of our sites – even for a single day — require complex and costly preparation, and obligate us to make plans that our teams, patients and communities can rely on. Given the uncertainty of a looming strike, and in order to provide surety for our patients, communities and care teams, we will staff our hospitals on Monday with the contracted replacement workers where needed. We hope the CNA union will call off this strike so our nurses can return to work and do what they do best — care for our patients. We remain committed to continue bargaining as long as negotiations are progressing effectively toward averting the strike.”

Sutter Health also released its labor fact sheet, which outlines its “investments and commitment to employees.”

Find a full list of the facilities where nurses and staff plan to strike here.

This is a developing story, stay with KCRA 3 for the latest.


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