Hospital nurses officials held a one-day strike nine hospitals in the San Francisco Bay area and Los Angeles would not be allowed to return to work Friday.
Thursday–the second strike in three months–and lockout planned is the latest in a series of disputes between nurses and hospital management of health care costs, and level of staff on maternity leave.
The California Nurses Association–the Union behind the strike–expected 6,000 nurses in nine hospitals in the area of San Francisco and Los Angeles to participate in the strike. Hospital officials said
San Francisco Bay area hospitals are targeted by nurses is controlled by Sutter Health. Nursing contract with Sutter ended about six months ago, and officials of States objected to the change paid leave and health premiums proposed by Sutter.
In Southern California, a nurse at Long Beach Memorial Hospital and the Miller children’s Hospital, which is not controlled by Sutter Health, have raised concerns about staffing levels which they say does not permit them to take meals and rest breaks.