How to resolve AdBlock issue? LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — Contract negotiations between Sutter Health and employees at eight of its medical facilities — including Sutter Lakeside — have come to a successful and amicable conclusion, with the two sides confirming they signed a new contract agreement on Monday.
More than 4,700 frontline health care workers “overwhelmingly” approved a new contract agreement with Sutter executives, said SEIU-United Healthcare Workers West, or SEIU-UHW, the union representing those staff members.
The agreement averted a strike at eight Sutter Health facilities in nine cities across Northern California that workers had authorized earlier this month, following informational pickets in August and September.
In addition to Lakeport, the new agreement covers facilities located in Antioch, Berkeley, Castro Valley, Oakland, Roseville, San Francisco, Santa Rosa and Vallejo.
SEIU-UHW said the Sutter Health workers it represents voted by a margin of 98% to approve the new agreement, which “addresses critical issues around staffing and working conditions by ensuring fair pay and benefits for frontline healthcare workers, allowing them to continue serving patients without disruption.”
In a statement released Monday night to Lake County News, Sutter Health said, “We’re pleased to have reached an agreement that supports our frontline employees while maintaining our shared focus on patient care and safety. As Sutter Health continues to achieve high safety scores, expand access to care, add new services and bring more physicians to the communities we serve, we’ll continue investing in and supporting the teams who make that care possible.”
The newly approved contract agreement provides 14 percent across-the-board raises over the life of the contract for workers, the union said.
The union reported the agreement also protects health care and retirement benefits for these frontline health care workers.
“This new contract shows that when we stand united, we can win improvements that protect both healthcare workers and our patients,” said Dinora Garcia, a dietary clerk from Sutter Lakeside Hospital. “Reaching this contract agreement wasn’t easy, but we stood together to advocate for worker and patient safety, improved staffing levels, and fair wages and benefits that reflect the vital work we do daily.”
SEIU-UHW represents Sutter Health workers who serve as nursing assistants, respiratory therapists, licensed vocational nurses, X-ray technicians, environmental and food services workers, among others.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
