Twenty-three thousand California health care workers are picketing outside their workplaces today, drawing attention to a massive debate over contract negotiations at Sutter Health. The demonstration, which may be the largest of its kind, began the same most employee pickets do — with a debate over cuts and benefits. Since health care is one of the few industries that appears to be thriving during the economic downturn, nurses can still clash with hospitals over benefits, pay, and pensions. Right now workers at Sutter are rankled over increases in health premium and retirement contributions, as well as cuts to paid sick-leave, which, workers note, would endanger patients besides inconveniencing workers.
FOLLOW US
