FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

November 9, 2021

ANTIOCH, Calif. – On day two of the second strike in as many months at Sutter Delta, Congressman Jerry McNerney will visit the healthcare workers protesting in front of the hospital. His visit follows a letter he co-wrote with Congressman Mark DeSaulnier over the weekend chastising the healthcare corporation for its chronic lack of staffing and urging Sutter Health to resume bargaining with the 350 workers currently on strike.

“It is our understanding,” the letter reads in part, “That this hospital has not seen a significant drop in patients over the last few years, but dozens of workers have resigned their positions during this time and have not been replaced, which has greatly increased the workload on those who remain. For the health and safety of the people of Antioch and surrounding communities, this issue must be resolved.”

Workers at Sutter Delta say massive understaffing, their employer’s refusal to propose solutions to the crisis, and a series of unfair labor practices prompted the vote to strike for a second time. They say conditions are dire for caregivers and patients inside their facility as management ignores staffing concerns pre-dating the COVID-19 pandemic, and that their employer’s lack of urgency in rehiring for open positions has only worsened the crisis, burning out overworked healthcare workers as they are pushed to the limit.

The strike consists of a variety of job classes at the hospital in Antioch, including emergency room technicians, respiratory therapists, phlebotomists, transporters, and licensed vocational nurses.

Media Contact: Renée Saldaña, [email protected]

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SEIU-United Healthcare Workers West (SEIU-UHW) is a healthcare justice union of more than 100,000 healthcare workers, patients, and healthcare activists united to ensure affordable, accessible, high-quality care for all Californians, provided by valued and respected healthcare workers.