Politics & Government
Eden Medical Center Nurses Strike for Patient Care
Union nurses say they are frustrated by contract negotiations with the hospital's owner, Sutter Health.
About 15 nurses and local supporters were on hand midday Thursday outside of Eden Medical Center in Castro Valley to protest contract concessions that Sutter Health management is seeking.
Protesters held up signs reading "Sutter is the Grinch" and "RNs on STRIKE for PATIENT CARE." Drivers honked as they drove by the group of protesters standing along Lake Chabot Road.
The local walkouts are part of a statewide action by the California Nurses Association (CNA) and National Nurses United, which are renegotiating contracts with Sutter Health. CNA spokesman Charles Idelson said management is demanding 150 concessions in patient care protections and nursing standards.
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Sutter spokeswoman Stacey Wells said patient care was not affected at Eden Medical Center by Thursday's strike. The hospital has approximately 600 registered nurses and about 200 traveling nurses were brought in to help cover patient care during the strike.
"[At the Eden Campus] 59 percent of our own registered nursed crossed the picket line," Wells said.
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Wells said Sutter met with CNA representatives Monday and reached a tentative agreement and has asked for more bargaining sessions in January in a further show of good faith.
Bob Auen, a charge nurse in the ICU and Eden Medical Center employee for more than 20 years, said he arrived at the protest site at 6:30 a.m. Thursday to stand up for patients. He said the proposals made by Sutter will take away patient protections, staffing ratios and nurses benefits in one fell swoop.
"As nurses our number one function is to take care and advocate for the patient," Auen said. "This is a historic strike. If Sutter is allowed to make these changes, others will follow suit."
Auen said he is frusterated when he hears that nurses are not negiotating in good faith.
"Management has not taken one proposal off the table," he said. "They are the ones not negotiating in good faith."
About 4,000 registered nurses were expected to take part in Thursday's strike at staged at eight Bay Area hospitals.
The other Bay Area sites affected by the walkout are:
- San Leandro Hospital;
- Alta Bates Summit Medical Center facilities in Berkeley and Oakland;
- Mills-Peninsula Health Services hospitals in Burlingame and San Mateo;
- Sutter Delta in Antioch;
- Sutter Solano in Vallejo.
Read the press release issued by National Nurses United explaining the strike.
The CNA said this is its second work stoppage. The union held a one-day to protest what it says were nearly 200 demands for contract concessions made by the Sutter despite being highly profitable since 2005.
Wells said this action was poorly timed and unnecessary.
"We’re disappointed that the nurses’ union called a strike, particularly during the holiday season when we all know only our sickest patients are in the hospital," she said.
Bay City News Service and San Leandro Patch Editor Tom Abate contributed to this report.
