About 4,700 unionized Sutter Health workers including nursing assistants and respiratory therapists voted to authorize a strike if negotiators can’t reach a new labor agreement with the not-for-profit health system.
Members of Service Employees International Union-United Healthcare Workers voted 96% in favor of a strike as its negotiators seek improved working conditions and an end to short staffing, SEIU said Friday.
The vote was taken at nine Sutter Health facilities: Oakland, Santa Rosa, Roseville, Berkeley, Lakeport, Vallejo, Antioch, Castro Valley and San Francisco, the union said. In addition to nursing assistants and respiratory therapists, the union represents licensed vocational nurses, environmental services, cooks and technicians.
Sutter cared for 3.5 million Californians in 2024, up about 100,000 from the previous year, according to its annual report. The organization ended 2024 with $142 million in operating income on total operating revenues of $18.2 billion, up 12.9% from 2023.
The union says turnover has forced employees to take on multiple roles and work longer hours as experienced caregivers leave for higher-paying jobs.
The union hasn’t chosen dates for a possible strike. The two sides are scheduled to bargain at upcoming sessions on Oct. 9 and 10.