Quality Care Will Continue if Union Proceeds With Another Strike

Hospital Disappointed that Union’s Growth Agenda Overrides Interests of Local Nurses

Sutter Solano Medical Center (SSMC) today reaffirmed its commitment to continue providing quality care in the unfortunate event California Nurses Association (C.N.A) proceeds with the strike on December 13 and 14—the second work stoppage in two months. Extensive planning and preparations by hospital administration ensured that around-the-clock, high quality patient care continued without interruption during C.N.A’s two-day strike last October.

"We greatly value our nurses and the contract offer we’ve already implemented compares very favorably to offers that have already been approved by C.N.A at other hospitals," says Kim Trumbull, R.N., chief nurse executive at SSMC. "It’s unfortunate that C.N.A misrepresents the true reasons for this strike and putts its national membership growth agenda before the best interest of our nurses and patients."

According to Trumbull, C.N.A already collects more than $7 million annually in dues from nurses that work for Sutter Health affiliated hospitals, but there is a potential to collect up to $4 million more.

"All of our nurses at this hospital are already members of C.N.A. There’s no reason to include union membership language in our contract—and it certainly shouldn’t be an obstacle to reaching agreement, but it has been," continues Trumbull. "Rather than grow its membership through the traditional democratic election process with votes at each hospital, C.N.A wants to take that choice away from nurses and require SSMC to agree to a single contract that would basically guarantee the union substantially more members and dues money."

"For us, this negotiating process has always been about reaching agreement on a contract that makes sure our nurses receive competitive wages and benefits and work in a respectful work environment. That remains our priority and commitment and we hope C.N.A ultimately concludes that a strike will do nothing to help facilitate agreement and is not in the best interest of our nurses, our patients or this community."


Contact:
Russell Neilson, supervisor, communications and marketing, 707-554-5123