Hundreds of SEIU health care workers are still on strike against California Pacific Medical Center (CPMC) and Sutter Health Care (which owns CPMC). They want CPMC/Sutter to accept a Federal Mediator's compromise offer.
One important issue , among many, is patient staffing. The SEIU writes in their flier:
Caregivers want to establish patient care committees comprised of equal numbers of managers and workers to set appopriate staffing levels. A neutral health care expert would settle disputes
Sutter is one of the last major hospital systems in California that does not have patient care committees. They are also quite profitable, despite clams to being a 'non-profit'. (They are currently under investigation in San Francisco for violating their non-profit status)
Says Sutter Watch:
Caregivers demanded such safe-staffing systems after hospitals, seeking to boost their profits, cut staff to dangerously low levels. For example, Sutter's California Pacific Medical Center (CPMC) cut staffing by 23% during a recent five-year period, according to state data.
Andy Stern, leader of the SEIU, is involved in what is becoming an epic battle between workers and anti-union zealots at Sutter Corporate. Picket lines remain strong after 2 weeks. $250,000 has been pledged for a strike fund, with more possibly coming, if needed.
Stern is quoted :
"This is not complicated,' Stern said. "Kaiser gets it. Catholic Healthcare West gets it. Every single hospital in California gets it.
To support the strike, the SEIU-Health Care West flier recommends calling the office of CPMC CEO Grant Davies, and asking them to "accept the Federal Mediator's compromise proposal". (Phone number here)
You can also write to Sutter at:
Sutter Health
2200 River Plaza Drive
Sacramento, CA 9583e
The strike has a fledging blog, as well.
State and local leaders, such as Gavin Newsom, Nancy Pelosi, and Barbara Boxer have asked Sutter to accept the Federally Mediated proposal. But Newsom could be pressured to be more vocal and, for instance, visit the picket lines as he did in the Hotel Workers strike. Feinstein hasn't said anything.
And if you're in the area, strikers always appreciate people visiting the picket line and voicing support.