Sutter Nurses Set To Strike In Response To Ongoing Patient Care Issues

BERKELEY, CA — Nurses at Alta Bates Summit Medical Center, part of Sutter Health, have issued a 10-day notice that they intend to hold a five-day strike in Oakland and Berkeley later this month.

The California Nurses Association union representing the nurses says the strike is in response to persistent patient care issues, including high turnover rates.

"It is not uncommon for a newly graduated nurse to come to our hospital to get one or two years of experience and then leave," said Ann Gaebler, a registered nurse in the neonatal intensive care unit.

The five-day strike is set to take place from Oct. 24 through Oct. 28.

"We are disappointed union leaders chose to disregard our patients by calling a five-day strike at Alta Bates Summit Medical Center," said a Sutter Health spokesperson. "Regardless of the union's actions, ABSMC's commitment to providing the community with critical services and high-quality, safe patient care during a strike and into the future remains unchanged."

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