Sutter Nurse Quotes
“Sutter Novato has not been bargaining in good faith since negotiations began. Their lead spokesperson even said to us “You can talk but we will not listen". Their takeaways hurt patients and hurt Nurses. Now they want to implement their takeaways like they have done at other facilities. We are striking because we have no other choice. “
--Janet Urman, RN Novato Community
"Sutter has refused to bargain in good faith with its registered nurses and has continued to put patient care in jeopardy. They have forced us to go on strike again in our fight to maintain our safe working conditions and our professional standards."
--Millie Borland, RN, Alta Bates Summit Medical Center, Oakland
"We will take job actions as necessary to protest Sutter's unjust demands. Sutter needs to stop scapegoating its nursing workforce, of almost all women, and stop blaming them for somehow preventing even greater profits for the corporation. Sutter's targeting of women degrades our profession and erodes the patient care standards at the heart of our profession. We will not back down."
--Melissa Thompson, RN, Sutter Delta Medical Center, Antioch
“Sutter needs to respect the nurses' right to be advocates for their patients. We must be able to care for our patients without having our professional standards eroded. That is what this contract fight is all about.”
--Elena Ballard, RN, Eden Medical Center, Castro Valley
“We have been in negotiations going on 18 months and during this time hospital management has repeatedly misrepresented us as nurses and has shown a lack of respect for the hard working women and men who are the backbone of our hospital. As staff nurses, we have a responsibility to fight to maintain standards of care for our patients. We cannot allow the erosion to patient care that Sutter's proposed takeaways would represent.”
--Ann Gaebler, RN, Alta Bates Medical Center, Berkeley
“Our communities could benefit from the tax revenue that Sutter Health and other hospital chains avoid. It’s time to investigate hospital “non-profit” tax status.”
--Carol Barazi, RN, San Leandro Hospital, San Leandro
“It has become necessary to strike again as Sutter has dug in their heels and refused to negotiate on any issue on the table. They have said they want every takeaway proposed without exception despite record profits and executive salaries. This stance is unacceptable for our nurses, our communities, and our patients.”
--Mike Hill, RN, Alta Bates Summit Medical Center, Oakland
“As an RN at Sutter Delta Medical Center, I feel I need to go on strike for the safety of my patients. The Medical Center is attempting to take away sick leave, vacation time, and education time which effectively forces me to come to work sick, stressed, and not up to date on the latest advancements of my profession.”
--Amy Black, RN, Sutter Delta Medical Center, Antioch
"With Sutter's malevolent speed-up and endangering of patient care, we have no alternative than to be on the strike line. It's a small price to pay for the safety of our patients, now and in the future."
--Eric Koch, RN, Alta Bates Summit Medical Center, Oakland
“It’s time for Sutter to stop acting like Goldman Sachs or J.P. Morgan West. It’s time for Sutter to stop its scorched earth policy of cuts in patient services while seeking to erode living standards for the people our communities count on to care for them when they are sick and vulnerable. Nurses will continue to resist this Wall Street agenda, no matter how long it takes.”
--Zenei Corez, RN, CNA co-president.