California nurses on strike again

CALIFORNIA (AP):

Nurses in California went on strike yesterday, some for the second time in three months, in the latest dispute between nurses and hospital management over health-care costs, staffing levels and sick leave.

The California Nurses Association, the union behind the one-day walkout, expected 6,000 nurses at nine hospitals in the San Francisco and Los Angeles areas to participate, although hospital officials said some workers had crossed the picket lines.

The strike followed a walkout called by the association on September 22 and came on the same day that more than 1,000 nurses in New York City gave notice that they plan to go on strike in January.

Officials at the California hospitals said replacement nurses had been brought in and patient care was not immediately affected.

'Last resort'

"Strikes are a last resort, but nurses will only strike if they want to make sure that patients have safe care every day," said Charles Idelson, a spokesman for the association.

The San Francisco Bay area hospitals targeted by the nurses are controlled by Sutter Health. The nurses' contract with Sutter expired about six months ago, and union officials have objected to changes in paid sick leave and health-care premiums proposed by Sutter.

In Southern California, nurses at Long Beach Memorial Hospital and adjoining Miller Children's Hospital, which are not controlled by Sutter Health, have raised concerns about staffing levelshey say don't allow them to take meal and rest breaks.