ANTIOCH, Calif., Nov. 7, 2021 /PRNewswire/ --
After Sutter Health refused to bargain in good faith and
canceled mediation, more than 350 healthcare workers at Sutter
Delta Medical Center in Antioch
will strike for a second time starting Monday, November 8th. Workers at Sutter Delta
Medical Center say massive understaffing, difficult working
conditions, and a series of unfair labor practices prompted the
vote to strike for a second time.
On November 7, after
management at Sutter Delta canceled the bargaining session which
had been scheduled with federal mediation, U.S. Reps. Mark DeSaulnier and Jerry McNerney sent a letter to Sutter Health
CEO Sarah Krevans, urging the
healthcare company to reach an agreement with workers in writing on
unsafe staffing.
"We understand that finding trained and qualified health
care workers is a challenge right now, not just for Sutter Delta,
but across the country," wrote U.S. Reps. DeSaulnier and McNerney.
"It is our understanding that this hospital has not seen a
significant drop in patients over the last few years, but dozens of
workers have resigned their positions during this time and have not
been replaced, which has greatly increased the workload on those
who remain. For the health and safety of the people of Antioch and surrounding communities, this
issue must be resolved."
The letter is available to view
here.
Employees at Sutter Delta Medical Center say conditions
are dire for caregivers and patients inside their facility as
management ignores concerns about understaffing and working
conditions. Workers are worried about patient and staff safety and
say they've been pushed to the limit by their employer.
"We voted to strike because we want to put a stop to
Sutter's unfair labor practices
and because we care about patient safety, and we want safe staffing
levels. We are exhausted and overwhelmed, and we feel like
Sutter management is ignoring our
concerns," said Stefanye Sartain, a
respiratory therapist at Sutter Delta Medical Center. "Our hospital
has multiple job openings that haven't been posted because
management feels they don't need the positions filled. But we are
so short-staffed, it's hard to provide adequate care. Sutter is eroding the staff and it's not safe
for patients or workers."
Workers at Sutter Delta Medical Center say staffing
shortages predate the COVID-19 pandemic and, as a result of years
of poor staffing and management decisions by Sutter, the hospital already didn't meet
adequate staffing for average patient levels. Frontline caregivers
say COVID exacerbated this already strained infrastructure, and
their employer's response to the pandemic has only worsened the
preexisting crisis.
The strike consists of a variety of job classes at the
hospital in Antioch, including
emergency room technicians, respiratory therapists, phlebotomists,
transporters, and licensed vocational nurses.
WHAT:
|
Caregivers in their
uniforms will walk off the job joined by their coworkers and
supporters. Later, caregivers in their uniforms and scrubs will
form picket lines, hold signs, chant, and give speeches.
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WHEN:
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Monday,November
8
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WHERE:
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Sutter Delta Medical
Center,
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3901 Lone Tree Way
(main entrance)
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Antioch, Calif.
94509
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SEIU-United Healthcare Workers West (SEIU-UHW) is a
healthcare justice union of more than 100,000 healthcare workers,
patients, and healthcare activists united to ensure affordable,
accessible, high-quality care for all Californians, provided by
valued and respected healthcare workers. Learn more at
www.seiu-uhw.org.
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SOURCE SEIU-United Healthcare Workers West