Striker resolve very high

The Sutter CPMC strike is not my first strike, but this is my first blog. Our members know what this strike is about, and they know the truth about what is going on on the picket line and in the hospitals. I want everyone to know the facts. That’s why I’m writing this blog.

What this strike is all about is the members.

I’ve spent lots of time on the lines since the strike’s start last Tuesday, and I’m moved and inspired by the dedication and resolve of our members. What I see is incredible unity of purpose to make renegade Sutter Health Corporation adhere to patient care and work standards in place at every other major employer we bargain with.

Members like Hugh Lucas tell me about their enthusiasm to take on Sutter on issues of patient care and to establish a greater voice at work for themselves and their patients. “We all want to return to our patients,” says Hugh, picket captain at the California campus. He’s seen it all at Sutter and the way he put it to me sums up what a lot of other strikers told me: “I am totally committed to getting a just settlement, and my co-workers share this sentiment.”

It’s this spirit that encourages me and makes me know we’re going to win.

And it’s not just the CPMC strikers. As I walked the lines, Sutter members from all the hospitals were there. Caroline Wandrick from Sutter Solano in Vallejo told me, “I walk to let Sutter know that if they take one of us on they take all of us on.”

Doug Jones from Sutter Eden in Castro Valley says, “This is the beginning of our final push toward an industry standard contract.”

Our workers get it. This is not about wages and benefits, but about the careers and future of our Sutter members and the kind of care they’re able to provide for their patients.

I’m meeting old friends on the line, getting reacquainted with others I’ve not seen for years, some as far back as the 1988 strike against Affiliated Hospitals in San Francisco. I feel privileged to be a part of this historic strike because it holds so much promise. I join strikers in feeling secure that there will be change at Sutter stemming from our mutual trust and collective will to do what we must to win.

We have picked the right place to make our stand. In San Francisco, we are among friends and allies. Elected leaders are solidly with us. Our members are strong and united. We’re poised for victory.

So that’s why I’m writing this blog. I invite everyone who reads this to add your own thoughts, questions, ideas. I look forward to carrying on a discussion with the broader community that supports our courageous Sutter members.

Sal Rosselli

Comments

[Tom]

I am a nursing aide who has worked for Sutter for 6 years. While my patients and coworkers have kept me motivated, I have found that CPMC and Sutter management just doesn't get it.

They think we won't picket for 7 hour shifts when we are on our feet for 8 hours in substandard working conditions. Because we make less than other hospitals we are often on our feet for 16 hours when we work a double. 7 hours and more is no problem!

Yesterday (Wednesday 21) we received "Dear Valued Employee" letters telling workers they can get their pay checks for pre-strike work at the security office of the Bank. They claim this is for quality patient care.

If I am a valued employee why don't I have a contract that is the industry standard.

If quality patient care is so important why do evening shift nursing aides have between 14 and 18 patients a night--not including revolving door discharges and admits.

The vital signs we perform might be considered minor to some but cardiac medications can not be administered with out them, chemotherapy reactions can be first displayed by unusual vital signs. And Blood transfusion reactions--potentially fatal but thankfully rare, can show up in extremely high temperatures. If you are running between 18 patients (somebody's loved ones) there is the fear that you might miss something really important.

With the aging population it has become increasingly difficult to provide incontinence care, assist the visually impaired and walk with patients that have an unsteady gait. We can not watch 18 grandmothers and grandfathers at the same time and yet we are expected to do just that.

People have been in good spirits on the picket line. we have been finding out that "it isn't just me", a lot of information about short staffing has been exchanged. People who never knew we worked for a richer hospital but paid less are now fully informed.

And thanks to cell phones, we get calls from the inside. We know it recently took one replacement 4 hours to do one round of vital signs (not the usual 60-75 min), we know about about garbage piling up until $45 an hour RNs pick it up. And the RNs are are now finding out why we are on strike.

All of the guards in the world can't stop cell phones and email.

I wish Sutter would actually listen to us, we could help so many people. But if you push a broom or hold a bed pan you are invisible. You know the type.

Sutter open your eyes or better yet your minds.

Sutter Just Say Yes!!!

[emily stone]

well, i have to say that resolve is pretty high after working my first pm/night shift. i worked for 6pm until 12:30 in the am and have to say that i think that this is where you really see to what lengths people are willing to go. standing out there in the cold with the wind blowing your picket sign and trying to get a response from the passing motorists in the dark is definately not an experience for the weak and timid. the good news is that there seemed to be much more positive responses from people than in the past. more honks, thumbs up and support from nurses and other staff than ever before. we still dont have the one support we really need though... a contract. so lets see more support from general public and less support from our employers. hmmmmmmmmmmmm
again we are not asking for that much... just signing the contract that the federal mediator proposed. hellooooooooo
how hard can it be. LETS STOP THIS NONSENSE so we can go back to work and give the patients the good care the need, desearve and used to get. sutter the ball is in your court whether you like it or not. now close the deal and sign the mediators proposal!!!