CPMC Caregivers Celebrate Strike Victory and Ratify Contract After Nine Weeks on Picket L

San Francisco -- Caregivers at California Pacific Medical Center celebrated a sweeping victory today by ratifying a contract agreement with their employer, Sutter Health/ CPMC. The settlement marks a major success for the 800 CPMC caregivers who were forced to strike on September 13. 500 caregivers at St. Luke’s Hospital are expected to ratify their contract agreement on Saturday and avoid a November 14th strike deadline.

The agreement was achieved after House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi called both parties to the bargaining table on November 7. Negotiations were facilitated by San Francisco businessman Lou Giraudo, owner of Boudin bakery.

“My coworkers and I were forced to strike for nine weeks for an industry standard contract that allow us to provide the best possible care to our patients. A hospital strike of this magnitude hasn’t happened in San Francisco since 1988, and we never want it to happen again,” said Della Reed, a Senior Licensed Vocation Nurse who has worked at CPMC for 37 years. “This contract is not only a win for caregivers, it’s a win for San Francisco patients and their loved ones.”

The settlement features three industry standard contract proposals that were at the heart of the prolonged labor dispute. Upon ratification, the contract affords caregivers who wish to join SEIU United Healthcare Workers West a fast and fair NLRB election. Management is no longer allowed to intimidate and harass workers by threatening loss of employment, benefits, or favorable working conditions upon joining UHW. The new code of conduct also prevents management from holding mandatory anti- union meetings with employees or distributing false information about union membership. Management retains the right to share the hospital’s position on unionization with employees via accurate written materials and worker- initiated verbal communication.

The contract also gives caregivers a real voice in hospital staffing. When disputes with management arise over safe staffing issues, SEIU UHW caregivers may submit their concern to a third party arbitrator with binding decision making power. The contract also features an employee training and upgrade fund.

"This strike has dragged-on for almost nine weeks, and I have been very concerned about its impact on CPMC's patients and the workers who care for them,” said House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi in a written statement. “Earlier this week, Mr. Giraudo and I called the parties back to the bargaining table to resolve their differences and end this strike, for the good of the patients, the workers, and our City. I was encouraged about the prospects for settlement because CPMC CEO Dr. Martin Brotman and SEIU President Sal Rosselli have the health care of the patients as their first priority.”

Caregivers are expected to return to work at CPMC on Tuesday, November 15.

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SEIU United Healthcare Workers-West, with more than 140,000 members, is the largest and most powerful healthcare union in the Western U.S. We represent every type of healthcare worker, including nursing, professional, technical and service classifications. Our mission is to achieve high quality healthcare for all.