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NEWS & LETTERS, September-October 2005

Sutter Health strike

San Francisco--On Sept. 13, 800 SEIU Local 250 employees at three facilities of California Pacific Medical Center in San Francisco went on strike. Unlike most of the recent one-day strikes, this one is of indeterminate length. Before striking, the union agreed to a federal mediator’s proposal, but Sutter Health refused. One picketer had this to say:

I want to emphasize that I am not a disgruntled employee. I have worked here for over 29 years. I like to work here and I like my co-workers. What we are asking is not outrageous--80 other hospitals have agreed to this contract. The quality care provision only requires a third party arbitrator in any staffing dispute, acceptable to both parties. We are also asking to upgrade the re-training fund, for health coverage for retirees and for the same expiration date on our contract as other hospitals.

They claim that because we are mostly custodial staff and LVNs that we don’t affect patient care. But we do. Too much stress created by too much work affects everybody in the hospital.

--Striker

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