Blue State Socialized Medicine: 5,000 Nurses Strike in CA, Patients Lives at Risk

October 11, 2007

Nurses Strike in Northern California

Wednesday, October 10, 2007

OAKLAND, Calif. -- Nearly 5,000 nurses in 15 Northern California hospitals

began a two-day walkout Wednesday to protest what they said were inadequate

contract offerings.

Officials with the Sutter Health hospital chain said replacement workers are

in place and that no disruptions in service were expected.

The nurses have been in negotiations since the spring with many of the

not-for-profit hospitals in the San Francisco Bay area and the Sacramento

area. The California Nurses Association union is protesting what it says are

unacceptable proposals on health care and retirement benefits and staffing

levels.

"It's come to this because Sutter has refused to listen to the concerns of

their nurses," said Charles Idelson, the union's communications director.

Many nurses "can't even take breaks a significant percentage of the time

because of inadequate staffing," he said.

Liz Jacobs, a registered nurse who is spokeswoman for the union, said that

in most of the Sutter hospitals' proposals, new health care plans would cost

workers more and give them fewer options. The union has also objected to

what it sees as inadequate health care benefits for its retirees.

But spokeswomen for four hospitals in the chain said their contract

offerings would not scale back health or retirement benefits.

Jonnie Banks, a spokeswoman for Eden Medical Center, which has campuses in

Castro Valley and San Leandro, said contract proposals there included an 18

percent wage increase over four years and no reduction in current health

care packages or retirement benefits.

Aside from the dozens of people picketing outside several hospitals, Sutter

officials said, the strike will not be felt by patients.

"Babies are being born, surgeries are being done," said Carolyn Kemp, an

Alta Bates spokeswoman. "I have more nurses today than I need."

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