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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.
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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — The Lake County Air Quality Management District reported that the county’s burn ban will be lifted on Saturday, Nov. 1.
The district’s burn permits are required for all outdoor burning in the Lake County Air Basin.
Residential burning requires a one acre or larger parcel. Only clean dry vegetation that was grown on the property may be burned. Burning vegetation that was transported from another parcel is prohibited.
District residential and agricultural burn permits will be available online Nov. 1 at www.lcaqmd.net from any device that has internet access.
The fee for a residential burn permit is $63 and the fee for an agricultural burn permit is $94. Residential and agricultural burn permits issued online are paid by credit card at time of issuance. If an alternative permit issuance or payment method is needed please call the district office to make arrangements.
A district smoke management plan burn permit is required for any of the following types of burning: multi-day or overnight burning, smoke impact potential, tule burning, piles greater than 10 feet diameter, more than one acre of standing vegetation, whole vines, whole trees or burning more than 20 acres in one day.
Smoke management plan burn permits will be available starting Nov. 3 at the district office by appointment only. Call 707-263-7000 to schedule an appointment. Bring the following information to your appointment: a map showing the burn location (https://gis.lakecountyca.gov/portal/home/index.html), burn site coordinates (GPS locations), parcel number or address, acres to be burned and details of vegetation to be burned.
The fee for a smoke management plan burn permit varies by size, type and number of parcels. Fees for the first parcel ranges from $125 for pile burning; $188 for standing brush; and $625 for complex burns such as levees, dams, right of ways, and reservoir burns. Additional parcel fees may apply. Payment must be made at the time of issuance by cash, check or money order to the District. Credit card payment is not available at this time.
District burn permits must be printed and readily available during burning. Read your burn permit carefully and follow all the conditions.
Be advised, a Cal Fire general or broadcast burn permit may be required for agricultural burning. For more information visit https://burnpermit.fire.ca.gov.
Consider composting or using the vegetative waste pickup provided with your waste collection service as an alternative to burning leaves. Greenwaste bins and dumpsters are available through your local waste collection provider. Thank you for your cooperation this burn season.
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- Written by: LAKE COUNTY NEWS REPORTS
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