Sutter Health Workers Approve New Contract, Averting Strike
URGENT UPDATE: Frontline healthcare workers at eight Sutter Health facilities across Northern California have just ratified a new contract, effectively averting a strike that had been authorized by an overwhelming 96 percent of workers earlier this month. The landmark agreement was approved by an astonishing 98 percent margin from a total of 4,700 workers on October 23, 2023.
This agreement is a significant victory for workers, addressing critical staffing issues and ensuring fair pay and benefits for those on the front lines of healthcare. The contract guarantees a 14 percent raise for workers over its duration and secures vital healthcare and retirement benefits, allowing them to continue serving patients without disruption.
“This new contract shows that when we stand united, we can win improvements that protect both healthcare workers and our patients,” said Dinora Garcia, a dietary clerk at Sutter Lakeside Hospital, in a recent news release from Sutter Health. “Reaching this contract agreement wasn’t easy, but we stood together to advocate for worker and patient safety, improved staffing levels, and fair wages and benefits that reflect the vital work we do daily.”
The agreement comes as a relief to healthcare workers at facilities in nine cities, including Vallejo, Oakland, Santa Rosa, Roseville, Berkeley, Lakeport, Antioch, Castro Valley, and San Francisco. Just two weeks earlier, a tentative agreement had been reached, following months of negotiations and protests where workers demanded safe staffing levels and fair pay.
Earlier this summer, workers had picketed in Vallejo, holding signs that highlighted the struggles caused by chronic understaffing and long hours, which contributed to caregiver burnout. The SEIU-UHW, which represents various workers across Sutter Health, including nursing assistants, respiratory therapists, and food services staff, played a crucial role in advocating for these changes.
With the contract now ratified, the focus shifts to implementation and ensuring that the agreed improvements are realized in the workplace. This development marks a pivotal moment in the ongoing fight for better working conditions in healthcare, emphasizing the importance of unity among workers in achieving significant changes.
As the situation continues to evolve, stakeholders will be watching closely to see how this agreement impacts patient care and worker satisfaction at Sutter Health facilities.
