On Monday, August 28 and Tuesday August 29, hospital workers at John Muir Medical Center's Concord Campus went on strike, urging the management to come back to the bargaining table. Without a contract since October, members of the 450-strong union have been struggling to prevent the profit-oriented John Muir management from cutting back their families' healthcare packages. Other issues of concern include the need for safe staffing guidelines, protection from unnecessary layoffs, and a ban on low-bid subcontracting. Workers also voiced their strong concern over reports that the hospital-hired rent-a-thug company Modern Industrial Services brought in struggling Katrina victims as scabs against the striking hospital staffers.

The 'non-profit' John Muir Health System is under investigation by Contra Costa County for excessive profits and executive compensation as well as unlawful joint partnerships with for-profit corporations. Read more and view photos