Sutter Strikers Blog

The victory at Sutter/CPMC

I expect this will be my final blog post about the Sutter/CPMC strike on this site. So I want to take this opportunity to send out a worldwide thanks to all the bloggers who sent their thoughts, comments, solidarity and support over the 60 powerful and energizing days of the dispute.

This appreciation starts with our own CMPC members/strikers Emily Stone and Tom Reynolds who, nearly daily by way of this blog, gave compelling, descriptive, heartfelt and often amusing reports from the lines. Thanks Emily; thanks Tom. Your blog posts kept us up to date on matters along the lines and were morale boosters for everybody involved.

Strikers’ spirits were lifted, too, by the support and encouragement received from across the country. Bloggers from Detroit, New York, Los Angeles, Kentucky, San Diego, Maine, Florida, Ohio, West Virginia and elsewhere weighed in on our strike. Typical was a solidarity blog sent midway through the dispute. “You’re the backbone of America, and America supports you,” said Manteo from Brooklyn. 

“Workers are the fabric of this nation and all we ask is a living wage, decent working conditions and respect as human beings,” blogged a member of the  postal workers’ union in Suffolk, Virginia. “It’s hard to stand up for what’s right when few on the outside world seem to care, but when unions win we all win.”

Strike is settled!

hi guys,

sorry this was so long in coming but it is in keeping with the settlement of the strike. i came into work on thursday to a boatload of people looking mighty happy. finally someone came over and told me the STRIKE WAS SETTLED!!!!!!!!

and that we had gotten a good settlement. we learned that we would be going back to work on tuesday (for me it is wednesday as tuesday is my regular day off),that there would be a vote on friday. mainly everyone was really happy and felt proud of the accomplishment we had obtained...WE WON THE STRIKE!. there was a lot of hugging going on as well as congratulations.

we, at least i, thought about all the friends i had made on the line and wondered when i would see them again. wondered what it would be like to go back after a couple of months of being off. after saying goodbye and hanging out for my last shift, i took off for a previously scheduled vacation weekend (my regular strike days off were friday and saturday) with my family in pacific grove. when i got home i learned that i had gotten home too late to attend the victory party, but did hear about it on a phone message from my line/blog mate tom. also got an email from marie, my coworker on the swing shift, who i feel i got to know much better than ever before, on the line. i will miss the people and experineces from the line, but have found the strike, while not particularly fun, worthwhile and empowering.

see ya
love emily

Taking Initiative

It was good to see Governator Arnold go down in flames on election day. While he is still the Gov, his ballot measures tanked. Perhaps the words "I'll Be Back" were premature.

I felt that the union used its membership well.

Many of us did precinct walking on election day. We partnered up with coworkers and put slate cards (in the form of door hangers) at the doors of certain registered voters.

One of Arnold's attempted (disem)power plays was the attempt to reduce union's political power. While coporations would still have been able to do right wing politics without asking each share holder on a yearly basis, the unions would have been forced into the redundant position authorizing our elected leadership to support progressive causes. If Arnold wants a voice in SEIU he can pick up a mop or bed pan and apply for a union job.

On the positive side--we won!!!

Open Letter from Closed Minds

Thursday, November 3rd, was a another vibrant day on the line.

Unfortunately CPMC management chose to continue their lies instead of dealing with their workers and giving us a good contact.

In case you missed their "open letter" to Sal Roselli in the paper.  They claimed that they had offered to meet all of the union demands and Sal was keeping us out on strike because of some secret power play.  Funny, I seem to remember my coworkers and I voting to go out on strike.

I seem to remember being fed up with having 18 patients on evening shift when Catholic Healthcare West caps their evening shift aides at 8 patients.

While everyone on the line respects Sal, workers don't go out on strike for over 50 days unless they have strong personal feelings about their working conditions, benefits and wages.

Who made us strike?

Sal didn't make us do it.

The Devil didn't make us do it.

Management and its commitment to giving the workers more work and less pay than our competitors brought us to the ballot box.  We voted to strike.

Another Day, Another Rally

well, we had a rally last night at the california campus yesterday. it is funny, each rally seems to take on a feel all its own. yesterdays rally was not as big, but it was really moving! there were speakers from several different unions who gave big checks to the "adopt a family" fund. thousands of dollars....and the speechs that came with the checks were "from the heart". they also spoke of a fundraiser breakfast where the food and supplies would be supplied by another union(sorry, i forgot the name of the union...please forgive me), and the proceeds would go to UHW wests strike fund. last but not least we heard about the new plan of support from san franciscos board of supervisors... which is quite wonderful, if i do say so myself.... and that is to invite all the other sf area hospitals (kaiser, chw, etc), to city hall to discuss the "future of healthcare in san francisco". so instead of waiting for sutter to show up we will exclude sutter and deal ONLY with hospitals  who have already signed a decent contract and show some respect for their employees. i like that idea. there are other fish in the sea!!!!

Tuesday night update

hi folks

well here i am again. just got off the line and i must say... it is the "same old same old"10 again. we got a crummy offer from the hospital, made a counter proposal which was refused by management. and here we are again...... waiting.

i just dont see what is to wait for. i know that just about everyone is over the strike and everyone wants to go back to work or wants the workers back... depending what side you are on. but somehow nothing happens.

It's Monday morning!

hi folks

well we got an offer from management.... but it was a pretty darn insulting one. i hear that we will be making a counter offer today and that if a response is not heard quickly that there will be consequences. there are various things that i have heard the consequences will be but the one i hear most often is that we will put in our 10 day strike notice at st lukes hospital... you know, the hospital where they recently fired their current ceo and installed dr brotman. guess he is getting rewarded for shafting his "VALUED EMPLOYEES"!!!!!

ok, so the next thing that i heard was that a worker at another hospital had come all the way down from shasta county with her daughter to walk our picket lines. that was sure nice of her and we all appreciated her support. that kind of support has been coming from various parts of california on an on going basis. so if i dont get a chance to tell you on the line i would like to tell you now " THANKS FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT"!!!

The Thursday before Friday!

well, i write this wondering what will happen today. we heard yesterday on the line that there would be a proposal from the hospital. am wondering what it will be and if this strike is nearing an end. it is hard to wait, and though i dont want to wait... wait is what i/we must do!!!

i met the new organizers that came in to help, yesterday as i sat on the line with my coworkers.i cant tell you how nice it was to talk with them all. i have come quite close with my "linemates" from "uptop", where i do most of my picketing. there is dave, with the dry sense of humor,qick wit,and plans to help us get our contract. there is tom, who is my bud and blogmate... he is blogging, walking the line and working a couple of part time jobs to make ends meet.

Tuesday was another encouraging day on the line

I arrived at the picket line a little after 6:00 in the morning and we had the beginings of a small crowd.  They were slowing down the trucks who crossed our lines, and I was more than happy to join in.

We count to 30 seconds before letting the trucks pass.  Some times we say ONE Mississippi, TWO Mississippi...and some times we spell one M-I-S-S-I-S-S-I-P-P-I.  I didn't realize the union had such good spellers.  Of course by the time you get to 30, one should have it memorized.

Some of the union members had breakfast with the Mayor.  They had the opportunity to thank him for his continous support for our strike and he talked about upcoming ballot iniatives.  Contrary to my reputation, I did bypass a free meal--but my fellow strikers came back excited by the experience.

Today was Pay Day which is always welcome.  The strike fund really makes this strike possible.  I have seen entrys from around the country and i want to say thanks to all of the union members nation wide who voted to support the Sutter Strikers.  Everyone on the line really appreciates it.

Yesterday at City Hall

hi there folks. it is nice to be back on the blog. i have been gone for awhile.

anyway, i just wanted to talk about yesterday at city hall. i had been out on the picket line the night before til 4am... mostlly because i had watched the world series and didnt go in until it was over.anyway, i digress... i came in and immediately went to the board of supervisors hearing on the strike. the bleachers (benches) were filled to capacity and then some with people, mostly union and union supporters. i was so moved by the support in the room ...moved to tears. the nurses who spoke were wonderful, only this time i got to thank them all in person.i found out that some of them had been fired!!!!! for not crossing the picket line. it was eventually changed to a suspension, but really, WHAT A PAIN AND WHAT A DISGRACE!!! that i work for a company that would sink that low. sutter doesnt desearve to lick those nurses boots in my book.or my peers and strikers boots, for that matter. i am continually impressed by the solidarity of my coworkers.

Two more days on the line

I have been a litle tired lately and have found it hard to blog every day.  Instead of blogging on line, I have been "blobbing" off line with Ben & Jerry's Coffee Heath Bar Crunch.

On Wednesday we had a reminder of how much the patients miss the regular staff.  One patient's wife from T2 (TICU - Transitional Intensive Care Unit 2) reported to the union that her husband had a reaction to IL2 (interleukin-2).  The wives and loved ones of chronically ill patinets know the safety protocols.  She knew her husband should have had vital signs every 2 hours but the replacement staff only took one set in 8 hours!!!

She recognized the regular aide on the picket line and came by to offer her support.  With the aging population and technological advances for serious illnesses, hospials get return visits from patients.  They remember the regular staff and learn the protocals and procedures we perform.  They want us back inside and know the hospital is not performing business as usual.

Heat's on Sutter

Sutter/CPMC lies are getting bigger by the day, even in an official setting such as the strike hearing by the San Francisco Board of Supervisors’ Government Audits & Oversight Committee yesterday afternoon. Sutter/CPMC is getting desperate over the growing realization that our striking members are winning this battle, that we are getting stronger.

The biggest whopper spun by Sutter/CPMC PR representatives sent to the hearing hosted by Board Pres. Aaron Peskin, Chris Daly and Sean Elsbernd was that Sutter had called the union on Sunday, inviting us back to the bargaining table. Not so. We did not get such a call.

Peskin asked John Borsos, our chief negotiator, straight out, “Is this true?” John’s answer: “Not true.” As a matter of fact, he said, “We called CPMC two hours ago to confirm whether the board passed a resolution to return to the table and received no response.” Things can’t be much clearer than this. What was clear, however, was John’s overview for supervisors of UHW contracts in place at Kaiser, CHW and Chinese Hospital. Peskin was amazed CPMC could be so arrogant as to reject industry-standard agreements.

Sutter brutality won't deter us

It’s midmorning, day 32 of the strike, and I’ve just come from the lines at CPMC’s Pacific Campus. I must tell you, I—and our striking members—are shocked by the unprovoked attack early this morning by the paramilitary thugs hired by Sutter Corporation to “protect” their facilities. There were about 150 caregivers on the lines at 5 a.m. at Pacific Campus, picketing and peacefully demonstrating when the “men in black” from the mercenary Steele Foundation unleashed a violent confrontation with our members. Several strikers were hit and kicked by the guards. One member was kicked in the stomach so hard she required ER treatment. Witnesses to the assault alerted SF police and the offending guard was arrested. Thankfully, the victim of the kicking came through the ordeal, apparently okay.

To me, this engagement was painfully mindful of the riot some 15 years back when SEIU janitors, family and allies—seeking Justice for Janitors—were beaten unmercifully by LA police while rallying in front of Century City office buildings. That police violence drew national attention and that fateful date, June 19, is now commemorated by labor as Justice for Janitors Day.

Our sense of humor

One of the best ways of keeping our spirits up has been our sense of humor.

With the grotesque news that one of the hired guards exposed himself to a female union staffer, one striker suggested a new chant, "Tell the Goon--Not to Moon."

Apparently he was fired (after all there was photograghic evidence--yuck!)

Most of the strikers have gotten support from friends and family.  One of my friends sent this healthcare related joke by email to bolster my spirits (Thanks, Robert!!!):

Wednesday on the picket lines

well, just spent another wednesday on the picket line. it was quite different this time as last wednesday i came late and went to the rally and this wednesday i came in at 5 in the morning. when the scab vans came in the gaurds pulled out the barriers and left nowhere for us to picket (this is our right, i might add) except the street and edge of street. then they pushed us when we got too close to them and told us "dont push me". things are getting more heated since sunday,when (i heard) they cornered a few of our picketers after they left the area where the scab bus comes in. they apparently surrounded the picketers and pushed and "talked shit" to them. things on the line really havent been the same since. lots of pushing and shoving and name calling and all that unneeded stuff. pretty annoying, not to mention, unprofessional! guess sutter feels comfortable with these goons they have hired. well, i dont!!! and i dont like being pushed around ..i dont deserve it and neither does anyone else.

there has also been a lot of picketing at the homes and business' of the board members...but only when they wont talk to us. those that have talked to us and heard our side of the issues have been fairly impressed and have changed their positions in many cases. that is heartening. after all, we are only asking that they sign the MEDIATORS PROPOSAL, which is a compromise.

i say "DEAR VALUED EMPLOYER" sign the damn contract and let us get back to work and things get back to normal. that is really not too much to ask!

-- emily stone

On the Side of Justice

I was thinking this morning about the strike activity of the past week and some of the highlights. We’ve moved forward in our steady campaign to expose the ugly and unethical behavior of the scab outfits CPMC has brought in to staff its hospitals. We’ve learned that HCSS—the scab agency run by deadbeat dad and convicted felon Gary Fanger—failed to pay its payroll taxes. I guess we can add tax dodger to Fanger’s rap sheet.

Meantime, we sent a strong message to Sutter that the corporation cannot simply make isolated decisions to shut down critical services at community facilities like St. Luke’s because these services fall short on profits. Members at St. Luke’s and CPMC already know Sutter is totally focused on the bottom line. After hearings by the SF Board of Supes it seems clear the city is getting the message and losing patience with Sutter’s games.

A high point last week was the picket line visit by Jesse Jackson. Rev. Jackson has been a relentless voice for working families—in California and across the country. His visit greatly inspired our members, especially when he urged strikers to “keep hope alive.” This is Jackson’s longtime mantra, a must in this critical strike and, for that matter, for the entire labor movement. It’s time for working people to take a stand, and here at CPMC that’s what we’re doing—taking a stand. I’m proud of our striking brothers and sisters. I know friends like Rev. Jackson know firsthand how important it is that we stand up for our rights, for fair contracts and for respect and dignity from our employers.

Talk about inspiration. Another longtime friend and ally, Dolores Huerta, joined our lines over the weekend. It amazes me how our friends are so eager to come out and support us. They know we’re on the side of justice.

Sal Rosselli

Saturday night from the picket line

It is just after midnight and I just walked home from the picket line.

It is Saturday October 8th and it is almost 4 weeks since my coworkers & I went out on strike.  The weather is getting nippier at night but the days are still sunny and nice.

Staying late allowed me to confer with my RN friends at shift change.

They say they want this strike to end (doesn't everybody?).  Although they begin their shift with twice as many CNAs as before the strike, the replacement workers are not getting the job done.

Some of the Scab Aides are bad enough for the RNs to write a full page letter to their manager, begging him not to send particular replacements back again.  One of the RNs brought home an incident report to document some of the problems.

One problem from yet another RN is that the replacement AIDEs do not report abnormal Vital Signs to their RNs.  One patient had a heart rate of 140 that was not immediately reported.  A regular heart rate is often considered 60-80 beats per minute.

Sadly I missed Delores Huerta at the Cal campus rally.  I had to work with my registry hospice patient.  People who were there sad it was a good rally.  While the picketing can be spirited and fun, it is good to be working with a patient and their family.  I look forward to returning to a better hospital when we win.

A nursing student from a local university stopped to ask about crossing the line.  She said that her classmates are all asking about the strike.  She asked what she could do.  We suggested talking to her school administation about pulling out of CPMC.  She said she would do that.

Friday Night I had the pleasure of going to a local Democratic Fundraiser.  We met  Congress woman Nancy Pelosi and Art Torres (California head of the Democratic Party).  He announced his support of the strike from the stage.  We talked to him in person as well and he pledged his continued support.

It would never have been necessary to develop such ties in the community if Sutter had ever listened to the workers.  Their work place culture of not listening to the workers at the bottom started both our  searh for friends and our strike.

C'mon Sutter Just say Yes!

-- Tom

An evening to remember

boy, was this a evening to remember. what a great rally ...and the rev jesse jackson was only part of it. there is nothing like hundreds of people yelling at the top of their lungs to "stop sutter", "what do we want...contract.. when do we want it now" etc etc etc. very powerful and really quite moving. speaking of moving....3 or the rns i work with came out to support our rally!!! one of them has cut her hours way back and one of them has refused to work...which is saying a lot because the nurses on our campus do not have union backup and no protection what so ever. it was nice to feel supported.my buddy brenda did a dynamite interview on channel 2 and i was interviewed by channel 4.... i saw channel 2's feed of the rally as they were down by the lower picket line after the rally. dont know how much they will show and wont find out because they said it would be on the "10 o,clock news" and i was on the picket line til at least 10:30. oh well.
things on the line were pretty rowdy after the rally and stayed that way all night. when i left, i said goodbye to everyone and realized how much solidarity and friendships i have made during this stirke. for that i am grateful. come on sutter. lets get this overwith and let us get back to work.

-- emily stone

Another Day, Another Picket

Another day, Another picket.

Today was loud and festive day on the picket line.  People were enjoying the sunny October weather.

There was a slightly larger group that made it to the front of the hospital.  I think more of the strikers realize it is important to be visible at all the hospital entrances.  Our crew at the front has taken special interest in the construction gate.  Apparently on Saturday, some union workers stopped delivering some construction supplies after being informed of our strike.  It is great when people honor our picket line.

Not only are people getting used to our presence, we've developed a following!  Those fake motorized cable cars that tourists ride to see the "sights" have begun driving by the lobby entrance picket line.

Share your stories

The horror stories from inside keep rollin' in. Bloggers traveling this site relate, and read, about the crazy state of affairs at CPMC. They really need us back in there, but in week three of the strike, CPMC stubbornly insists things are running under "normal conditions."

Normal, like 13 security guards at Davies quitting early one morning over frustration they face from rampant theft and growing problems stirred up by Sutter's scab force. The mass resignation came on the heels of the sudden departure of a security supervisor who reportedly "was sickened by what he was having to deal with."

Strikers have formed little networks of their own, and we hear things. A doc got his laptop ripped off. Patient care is really suffering. From this blog post, we learn that an RN at East Campus (the old Marshall Hale, now part of California Campus) tells us that an untrained scab neglected to report a patient's seriously low blood pressure, infuriating the attending doctor. They had to call an emergency ambulance to hurry the patient over to Pacific Campus.