Contra Costa Herald

News Of By and For The People of Contra Costa County, California

AC Transit, AFSCME Local 3916 reach new deal for 300+ employees

By Leave a Comment

Photo: AC Transit

District says agreement strengthens workforce stability, helping protect service for riders

Requires AC Transit Board approval

By Robert Lyles, Media Affairs & Strategic Initiatives Manager, Alameda-Contra Costa Transit District 

OAKLAND, Calif. – The Alameda-Contra Costa Transit District (AC Transit) has reached a ratified agreement with the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 3916, marking an important advancement during a pivotal year for the Transit District and its workforce of more than 2,200 employees.

The ratified collective bargaining agreement offers greater stability and certainty for the more than 300 Local 3916 members, while reinforcing the workforce stability needed to deliver reliable service to more than 3 million riders each month.

“I want to thank everyone on both sides of the negotiating table for the professionalism and persistence that brought us to this milestone. The negotiations were challenging but never became an ‘us versus them.’ We remained focused on supporting the administrative employees, supervisors, and managers who work to keep AC Transit moving every day. This agreement demonstrates what ‘One East Bay. One AC Transit’ looks like in action,” says General Manager Sal Llamas.

Among the 2.5-year agreement’s key provisions are wage increases designed to help employees keep pace with inflation, with 3 percent increases in the current fiscal year, FY 2027–28, and FY 2028–29. The agreement also includes an on-call pay adjustment that helps ensure qualified employees are ready to respond when the unexpected happens.

The newly ratified CBA helps AC Transit retain the skilled employees who keep our service moving safely and reliably. That workforce stability is particularly important as the Transit District manages an estimated $200 million in projected deficits over the next four years. By helping reduce turnover and providing greater certainty around labor costs, the CBA gives AC Transit a more predictable foundation for planning as it works toward long-term financial sustainability.

“Our members help power innovative trip-planning tools, coordinate bus assignments and running times, monitor service disruptions and emergencies on the road, and perform countless other essential functions that our riders may never see. Reaching this contract agreement and the vote shows the Transit District recognizes the value we bring to work every day,” said Gideon Murey, AFSCME Local 3916 President.

Beyond compensation, the agreement strengthens employees’ voice in the workplace. It expands the Labor Management Committee (LMC), giving Local 3916 a greater role in providing recommendations on the Transit District’s use of contract workers. In addition, the agreement introduces new illuminated safety equipment, providing greater visibility and protection for employees working around moving buses, traffic, maintenance equipment, and in low-light conditions.

Now that AFSCME Local 3916 members have ratified the agreement, it advances to the AC Transit Board of Directors for consideration and final approval.

Source: AFSCME Council 57 Local 3916

About AC Transit

The Alameda-Contra Costa Transit District, known as AC Transit, has been in operation since 1960 and is the largest public bus-only system in California, and the 3rd largest bus-only transit agency in the United States. Based out of Oakland, California and multiple facilities throughout Alameda and Contra-Costa counties, AC Transit makes bus service available to 1.5 million East Bay residents that populate our 364 square mile service area. AC Transit operates a fleet of 626 buses and 6 facilities and is moving forward its zero-emission program as funding becomes available. Currently, AC Transit connects to 14 transit agencies, 27 BART stations, seven Amtrak stations, and five ferry terminals.

It provides an average of nearly 135,000 daily passenger trips with 133 bus lines throughout the 364-square-mile service area. AC Transit provides safe, convenient, courteous, and reliable service in 13 cities and adjacent unincorporated areas as well as carrying almost 7,000 daily riders across the bay to San Francisco.

In 2023, the District was honored as the Outstanding Public Transportation System of the Year by the American Public Transportation Association. AC Transit’s mission is to deliver safe, reliable, sustainable transit service that responds to the needs of our customers and community.

About AFSCME Council 57

AFSCME fights to promote freedom and opportunity for all working people wherever, and whoever, they are. For public service workers, we negotiate better pay and benefits because fighting for every member’s future is a form of respect. We inform people about the issues that keep all working families up at night because informed advocates command respect. That’s how we win better lives for ourselves, our families, our communities and our country. These are the things we will never quit fighting for.

AFSCME Council 57 is comprised of 26 local unions representing 35,000 members throughout Northern California and the Central Valley including Local 3916. Established in 1963, the Council was formed as a progressive, member-driven labor organization dedicated to empowering and securing dignity and respect for all workers. We work together to improve wages, benefits and working conditions through organizing, collective bargaining and political action. We represent workers in schools and community colleges, transit agencies, public works and services, clinics and hospitals, and water and wastewater facilities. Our members are also the health and social service professionals in corrections facilities across California.

We support our local unions by:

  • Providing resources, training and professional services
  • Fighting for economic and social justice
  • Raising awareness on issues that affect working families
  • Empowering members in representation and bargaining
  • Mobilizing workers to participate in the political process
  • Sharing effective communication and resources
  • Organizing unorganized workers

We also partner with other labor organizations, service providers, consumers, the faith community and community-based organizations to:

  • ensure the health and vitality of working families and their communities
  • seek solutions to critical issues like the healthcare and mental health crisis as well as climate change
  • raise awareness of wasteful contracting out of public services
  • stop attacks on public sector workers
  • fix California’s inequitable tax policies

Council 57 is affiliated with the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, a democratic union with 1.4 million members who share a common commitment to public service in our communities. We also encourage our locals to affiliate with their local arm of the AFL-CIO, the Central Labor Council.

For more information visit https://afscme57.org/locals/afscme-local-3916.

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.

Hospice East Bay announces extensive staffing, care coverage during planned strike

By Leave a Comment

Comprehensive hospice services and admissions to proceed without interruption

By Rico Marcelli, Communications Director, Hospice East Bay

Pleasant Hill, CA — Hospice East Bay announced its comprehensive plan to support patients, families, and the community with exceptional hospice care and admission services throughout a planned seven-day strike of National Union of Healthcare Workers (NUHW) employees that is scheduled for October 5 to October 12, 2026.

To maintain continuity of care during this period, the following plans are in place:

A contingency team of qualified, trained clinicians will be available to respond to needs and provide necessary care, including admissions and daily operations at the Bruns House.

Hospice physicians and administrative staff will remain on call and accessible by phone for any time-sensitive concerns.

Medication, equipment, and supplies will be closely monitored and proactively managed to minimize any risk of disruption.

Volunteer activities and social support services will continue without interruption.

“Our commitment to serve the East Bay community is unwavering and we will ensure the necessary support to create seamless care for those in our care,” said Tonya Lyons, Regional Clinical Director, Hospice East Bay. “As a nonprofit

hospice provider, we are deeply disappointed by the National Union of Healthcare Worker’s plan to strike. The Hospice East Bay team continues to bargain in good faith and remains committed to reaching a fair agreement that will lay the groundwork for long-term sustainability and growth into the future,”

Hospice East Bay has provided nonprofit, community-based hospice care and grief support to local families for nearly 50 years.

“Thanks to the incredible commitment of our outstanding team members, volunteers and community supporters, we are achieving our vision of creating an environment of collaboration, celebration, opportunity and growth.” said Lyons.

Hospice East Bay provides compassionate end-of-life care to terminally ill patients, while offering emotional, spiritual, and grief support for the entire family. As a not-for-profit organization, we accept all medically qualified patients, regardless of their insurance status or ability to pay. Hospice East Bay has been caring for patients and their families since 1977. Proceeds from our thrift shoppes support the programs of Hospice East Bay. For more information visit Hospice East Bay – Palliative, Hospice & Grief Support.

Pleasant Hill hospice workers to start 7-day strike Oct. 5

By Leave a Comment

Caregivers at Hospice East Bay to protest new Florida-based owner imposing severe layoffs, service reductions

By Matthew Artz, Assistant Communications Director, National Union of Healthcare Workers

PLEASANT HILL, Calif. — Three years after becoming among the first Northern California hospice workers to form a union, caregivers at one of the Bay Area’s oldest hospice providers are launching a 7-day Unfair Labor Practice strike, starting at 6 a.m., Monday, Oct. 5.

“We’ve lost local control of the hospice, and now we’re about to lose caregivers who help people through some of the hardest moments of their lives,” said Claire Eustice, a chaplain at the hospice. “This is a critical moment, and we’re taking a stand to protect a program that has served generations of East Bay families.”

Dozens of hospice workers will be striking Hospice East Bay headquarters alongside elected leaders and community supporters from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m., Monday, Oct. 5 and from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 6 to Sunday, Oct. 11, 3470 Buskirk Ave., Pleasant Hill.

The approximately 70 nurses, social workers, pharmacists, chaplains and bereavement counselors at Hospice East Bay made statewide headlines in November 2023 when they joined the National Union of Healthcare Workers. They are still seeking their first contract after nearly three years of negotiations. During that period, Hospice East Bay, which was founded in 1977 and remains the second-largest hospice provider serving Alameda, Contra Costa and Solano counties, surrendered local control and turned over operations to Chapters Health System, a national hospice chain based in Florida, whose CEO, Andrew Molosky, was paid over $2.5 million in 2024, the last year for which records are publicly available.

Since Chapters took over last October, contract bargaining has stagnated, and staffing has declined. After a smaller layoff last year, Chapters is now set to lay off the equivalent of 21 full-time workers effective Oct. 16, including top executives, non-union nurses and four union members: two chaplains, a psychosocial resource specialist and a bereavement counselor.

Following the layoffs, the hospice will have just two bereavement counselors for a census of 1,200 patients and immediate family members, precluding it from offering all its traditional services to help grieving family members, including peer support groups, one-on-one counseling sessions and in-home counseling for clients with mobility issues. The hospice already eliminated a program two years ago for school-aged children who lost a parent.

“We’re about to be down to only two counselors, which means we can’t offer all the services we know help those in grief,” said Dawn Torre, a bereavement counselor at the hospice. “It’s painful to know that we won’t have the capacity to help families cope with the loss of a loved one.  It’s not fair to anyone, and there’s no excuse for it.”

Hospice unionization and consolidation are increasing throughout the Bay Area. Since 2022, more than 400 hospice workers in Northern California have joined NUHW, including at two hospices in Sonoma County whose operations were recently taken over by Compassus, a private equity-backed company.

Although Chapters is not a for-profit operator, it touts a reputation for helping its member hospices to “maximize administrative resources and minimize expenses.” Among those set to be laid off on Aug. 16 is Hospice East Bay Executive Director Chris Falley. Rather than replace Falley, Chapters is planning to appoint a new executive to oversee Hospice East Bay and four other Chapters hospice programs in the western United States.

The chain went months without holding any negotiating sessions with workers despite conditions placed by Attorney General Rob Bonta on Chapters’ acquisition of Hospice East Bay requiring that the national chain to “collectively bargain in good faith.” Chapters also laid off three workers last year and withheld merit raises until the National Labor Relations Board ordered it to provide the wage increases while negotiations continued.

In contract negotiations, the chain is insisting on being able to increase health care premiums at any time, while offering only a 2.5 percent raise over the next year. Chapters is also demanding that workers effectively waive the right to ever sue Chapters and accept employment arbitration to settle disputes.

“It’s clear to us that Chapters is trying to break our union and defund our services,” said Marie Yang, a chaplain at the hospice. “Their strategy seems to be to drag this out until we give up — but that won’t happen. We’re defending a community institution, and we are committed to being able to provide our patients with the compassion they deserve.”

Workers have filed several Unfair Labor Practice charges against Hospice East Bay. There are currently two outstanding charges citing Chapters for unilaterally changing employee health insurance and refusing to bargain over it, eliminating two union job titles, and then offering to rehire the union workers into non-union job titles, but still doing the same job.

The National Union of Healthcare Workers is a member-led movement that represents 19,000 healthcare workers in California and Hawaii, including more than 400 hospice workers.

Rep. DeSaulnier hails $2.6 billion in COVID-relief funding for Concord-based union pension plan

By Leave a Comment

Serves over 138,000 retirees; funding from 2021 American Rescue Plan Act

By Mairead Glowacki, Communications Director, Office of Congressman Mark DeSaulnier

Washington, D.C. – On Thursday, April 2, 2026, Congressman Mark DeSaulnier (CA-10) announced that the Northern California UFCW Plan, which is based in Concord, California, a city he represents, will receive $2.6 billion in pension relief funding made possible by the Democrat-passed $1.9 trillion COVID-relief American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) that the Congressman was proud to vote for in 2021. This funding will enable the plan to continue to pay retirement benefits for its 138,516 participants in the service industry without reduction for many years into the future.

“In the midst of the COVID epidemic, Democrats fought tooth and nail to protect the lives and livelihoods of working Americans and their families, ultimately passing the American Rescue Plan to prevent cuts to the hard-earned benefits of retirees and workers. This funding, that will benefit hundreds of thousands of workers and retirees, including those here in our district, is a direct result of those efforts and I am proud to have helped bring this money home,” said DeSaulnier.

The application for this funding was submitted to the Special Financial Assistance (SFA) Program by the UFCW – Northern California Employers Joint Pension Plan (Northern California UFCW) and approved by the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC). The SFA Program provides funding to severely underfunded multiemployer pension plans and will ensure that millions of America’s workers, retirees, and their families receive the pension benefits they earned.

Rep. DeSaulnier is a senior member of the House Committee on Education and Workforce where he is the Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Health, Employment, Labor, and Pensions.

 

Con Fire and Firefighters Association to host Santa’s Firehouse Toy Drive Dec. 19-21

By Leave a Comment

Four locations

By Contra Costa County Fire Protection District

THIS WEEKEND!

Contra Costa County Fire Protection District and the United Professional Firefighters Association of Contra Costa County Local 1230 are partnering to collect new, unwrapped toys for children in our communities!

Celebrate the season with Santa at one of his four stops across the county! Donate a toy, enjoy cookies and cocoa, and meet your local firefighters!

Fire Station 10- 2955 Treat Blvd., Concord
Friday, December 19, 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM

Fire Station 82- 196 Bluerock Drive, Antioch
Saturday, December 20, 10:00 AM – Noon

Fire Station 92- 201 John Muir Parkway, Brentwood
Saturday, December 20, 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM

Fire Station 76- 1680 Refugio Valley Road, Hercules
Sunday, December 21, 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM

For more information about Con Fire visit www.cccfpd.org.

CA nurses’ union celebrates new worker protection law

By Leave a Comment

AB 692 will prohibit ‘stay-or-pay’ contracts that trap nurses and other workers in exploitative debt arrangements with employers

By California Nurses Association

California Nurses Association (CNA), the largest union of registered nurses in the state of California, applauds Governor Gavin Newsom for taking action to protect workers from employers’ use of predatory debt contracts and signing Assembly Bill 692 (A.B. 692) into law on Monday, Oct. 13. A.B. 692 prohibits employers from requiring workers to pay a debt, fee, or penalty if the workers wants to leave their job, expressly making these kinds of exploitative workplace debt arrangements unlawful.

“California is taking a proactive step forward to support the thousands of nurses and nearly one in 12 workers who are in exploitative stay-or-pay contracts,” said Sandy Reding, RN and CNA president. “We are grateful for Assemblymember Kalra championing this bill and to Governor Newsom for stepping up with the labor movement to stand up to Trump’s assaults on worker protections. California leads the rest of the country by signing this bill into law.”

A.B. 692 was authored by Assemblymember Ash Kalra (D-San Jose) and sponsored by CNA, as well as a broad coalition of co-sponsoring organizations, including the California Federation of Labor Unions, California Employment Lawyers Association, Protect Borrowers, and the American Economic Liberties Project.

“It has been an honor to work with CNA in abolishing exploitative stay-or-pay contracts and stopping employers from creating debt to trap and intimidate workers,” said Assemblymember Kalra. “I am grateful Governor Newsom signed A.B. 692, ensuring workers are not coerced into employment debt agreements and can be empowered to leave bad jobs.”

“Today, Governor Newsom signed an important bill to ban employer debt traps and protect nurses, actors, athletes and so many other workers. Employers use training repayment schemes to trap workers in jobs with low wages, unsafe conditions, and abusive managers,” said California Labor Federation President Lorena Gonzalez. “It doesn’t matter if you work in a hospital or play professional sports, no worker should have to pay an employer back if they leave a job. We are proud of California’s progress that will help workers level the playing field.”

A.B. 692 addresses the growing number of employers that are using debt as an exploitative tool to trap workers in jobs, often with low wages and substandard working conditions, and to bust unions. Sometimes called “stay-or-pay” contracts, employers coerce workers into predatory arrangements that require the worker to pay an alleged debt or other financial penalty to their employer if the worker leaves their job before a prescribed period of time–whether the worker is fired, laid off, or quits. With the threat of having to pay back a debt or fee to their employer, “stay-or-pay” contracts indenture workers to remain at a job and chills workers from seeking better wages or working conditions.

California Nurses Association/National Nurses United is the largest and fastest-growing union and professional association of registered nurses in the nation with more than 100,000 members in more than 200 facilities throughout California and more than 225,000 RNs nationwide.

 

Strike averted: Sutter Health, SEIU-UHW reach tentative agreements on contracts 

By Leave a Comment

For more than 4,700 frontline healthcare workers across Northern California, securing progress on staffing, pay, working conditions 

By Jennifer Kelly, Media Relations, SEIU-United Healthcare Workers West (SEIU-UHW)

OAKLAND, CA – As of Saturday, Oct. 11, 2025, frontline healthcare workers at eight Sutter Health facilities across Northern California have reached a tentative contract agreement with Sutter executives, averting the strike workers had overwhelmingly authorized. The new agreement addresses critical issues around staffing and working conditions by ensuring fair pay and benefits for frontline healthcare workers, allowing them to continue serving patients without disruption. (See related article)

“This tentative agreement shows that when we stand united, we can win improvements that protect both healthcare workers and our patients,” said Dinora Garcia, a dietary clerk from Sutter Lakeside. “Reaching this agreement wasn’t easy but we stood together to advocate for worker and patient safety, improved staffing levels, and fair wages and benefits that reflect the vital work we do every day.”

The tentative contract agreement needs to be voted on and approved by the members before it is final. If approved, the agreement will provide 14 percent across-the-board raises for workers. The agreement also protects healthcare and retirement benefits for these frontline healthcare workers.

The tentative agreement averts a strike at eight Sutter Health facilities in Oakland, Santa Rosa, Roseville, Berkeley, Lakeport, Vallejo, Antioch, Castro Valley and San Francisco, where thousands of workers had been preparing to strike.

SEIU-UHW represents a variety of workers across Sutter Health, including nursing assistants, respiratory therapists, licensed vocational nurses, environmental services, food services, x-ray technicians, respiratory therapists and others. The ratification vote will be scheduled for later this month.

Sutter Health Issues Statement

According to a Sutter Health spokesperson, “Sutter Health and SEIU-UHW reached tentative agreements for new contracts on Saturday covering more than 4,400 employees at eight hospitals.

The parties have negotiated in good faith since July for an agreement that recognizes and rewards employees while supporting our ability to deliver safe, high-quality care. We believe the tentative agreements meet those goals.

SEIU-UHW will soon hold a ratification vote for its membership. We encourage all eligible employees to participate in the vote and support this fair contract offer.”

About SEIU-UHW

SEIU-United Healthcare Workers West (SEIU-UHW) is a healthcare justice union of more than 120,000 healthcare workers, patients, and healthcare activists united to ensure affordable, accessible, high-quality care for all Californians provided by valued and respected healthcare workers. Learn more at www.seiu-uhw.org.

About Sutter Health

Sutter Health’s integrated, not-for-profit system of associated clinicians, employees and volunteers support more than 3 million patients in diverse communities across two dozen counties. Headquartered in Northern California, Sutter provides access to high quality, affordable care through its hospitals, medical foundations, ambulatory surgery centers, urgent and walk-in care centers, telehealth, home health and hospice services.

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.

Dialysis workers in California file complaints over safety, working conditions at Satellite Healthcare, Fresenius clinics

By Leave a Comment

Workers demand public health department investigations into claims of unsafe staffing, unsanitary conditions, dangerous care practices

Fresnenius denies workers’ allegations, Satellite does not respond

By Renée Saldaña, SEIU, Press Secretary, SEUI – United Healthcare Workers West

CALIFORNIA –  Dialysis healthcare workers in counties across California delivered complaints to local Departments of Public Health on Tuesday and Wednesday that detail alarming and persistent violations inside dialysis clinics operated by Satellite Healthcare and Fresenius Medical Care in Stockton, Santa Rosa, San Diego, Imperial Valley, Riverside, San Bernardino, Sacramento, and the Bay Area.

The complaints, filed by members of SEIU–United Healthcare Workers West (SEIU-UHW), outline conditions that workers say create unsafe working conditions and put vulnerable dialysis patients at serious risk, including chronic understaffing, infection control failures, unsanitary facilities, and unsafe equipment.

“Dialysis patients deserve safe, quality care – but instead, we’re seeing clinics where workers are stretched so thin that even basic safety protocols can’t be followed,” said Mike Badilla, a patient care technician at Satellite Healthcare in Gilroy.  “We’re speaking up because these conditions are unacceptable for workers and our patients. These companies know what the problems are. They’ve been warned before. But until they’re forced to change, patients will keep paying the price.”

The complaints detail a disturbing pattern of systemic issues across multiple facilities, including:

  • Unsafe staffing levels leaving workers responsible for more patients and tasks than can be safely managed, leading to skipped safety checks, improper infection control procedures, and missed treatments.
  • Equipment failures and unsafe environments such as broken Hoyer lifts requiring firefighters to move patients, leaking water treatment rooms, broken air conditioning systems, and debris left around treatment areas during renovations.
  • Infection control lapses including visible blood stains in patient areas, improper disinfection procedures, and insufficient time between treatments to safely clean equipment.

“Our clinics are understaffed, under-resourced, and run by executives more focused on profits than worker and patient safety,” said Bonnie Oconer, a patient care technician at Fresenius Medical Care in Riverside. “We’re calling on public health departments to investigate these conditions and hold these companies accountable.

Dialysis workers have been raising alarms for years about unsafe conditions in the dialysis industry. Despite past citations from state inspectors, similar safety failures continue, and caregivers say that without stronger enforcement and meaningful changes from employers, workers and patients will remain at risk.

SEIU-UHW represents more than 700 dialysis caregivers at Fresenius, Satellite Healthcare and U.S. Renal in various job classes, including registered nurses, patient care technicians, licensed vocational nurses, certified clinical hemodialysis technicians, dietitians, social workers, clinical administrative coordinators, and receptionists.

SEIU-United Healthcare Workers West (SEIU-UHW) is a healthcare justice union of more than 120,000 healthcare workers, patients, and healthcare activists united to ensure affordable, accessible, high-quality care for all Californians, provided by valued and respected healthcare workers. Learn more at www.seiu-uhw.org.

UPDATE: Fresenius Responds, Denies Workers’ Allegations

In response, Kirsten Stratton, Senior Manager for Media Relations, Global Communications of Fresenius Medical Care provided the following company statement:

“SEIU-UHW’s allegations are not supported by facts. Objective government quality metrics routinely demonstrate that our dialysis centers in California lead and outperform the rest of the industry.

The latest Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services 5-star quality ratings showed that our California centers have a higher ratio of 4- and 5-star ratings than any other dialysis provider across the country. Our employee hiring and retention far outpace California and nationwide trends. From 2022 through 2024 in California, our average time to fill a position improved by 22%, open positions by 68%, and voluntary turnover from 22% to 10%.

As has been the case throughout this process, our focus will be on bargaining in good faith and providing high-quality, life-sustaining care.”

An effort to also reach Satellite Healthcare for comment was unsuccessful prior to publication time. Please check back later for any additional updates.

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.

 

Thousands of Sutter Health workers vote to strike over claims of unfair labor practices

By 1 Comment

96% vote in favor of a strike, claim Sutter Health management refuses to bargain in good faith in order to fix working conditions and short staffing

“Sutter Health has been bargaining in good faith with SEIU–UHW since July and we remain committed to reaching a fair and sustainable agreement.” – Sutter Health

By Renée Saldaña, Press Secretary, SEUI – United Healthcare Workers West

OAKLAND, Calif. – Frontline healthcare workers from eight different Sutter Hospitals and Medical Centers across Northern California have voted to authorize a strike over unfair labor practices. The workers overwhelmingly approved the strike with a 96% vote in support, citing bad faith bargaining by Sutter executives. Workers have not yet chosen dates and will continue trying to bargain with Sutter executives at upcoming sessions on October 9 and 10.

In August and September, these same caregivers held a series of rolling pickets at the sites of the possible future strike, including a march and rally at Sutter Health’s Sacramento Medical Center that drew over 1,000 frontline healthcare workers calling for safer staffing, fair pay, and investment in underserved communities across the giant healthcare system.

“We don’t want to go on strike, but we feel like we have to,” said Nikki Moorer of Sutter Solano. “We need management to stop bargaining in bad faith and listen to us to fix working conditions and short staffing. Procedures get canceled, and patients are sent home because there aren’t enough staff to properly stock the equipment we need. That’s not care. That’s a crisis.”

Healthcare workers at Sutter Health facilities in Oakland, Santa Rosa, Roseville, Berkeley, Lakeport, Vallejo, Antioch, Castro Valley, and San Francisco say that despite their dedication to provide the best patient care, management refuses to invest in the staff who make that mission possible. Turnover has forced employees to take on multiple roles and work longer hours as experienced caregivers leave for higher-paying jobs. Staffing shortages are stretching the remaining workforce thin and putting patient care at risk. Despite this, Sutter executives refuse to listen to frontline healthcare workers to negotiate for a contract to help solve these problems.

At the same time, Sutter is paying its top executives millions each year, including Sutter Health CEO Warner Thomas, who earned over $11 million in 2023, while refusing to invest in staffing and patient care. The health system also plans to replace the aging Alta Bates Ashby campus with a smaller facility in Emeryville, leading to a loss of services in the communities that need them most.

The strike votes apply to a variety of job classes, including nursing assistants, respiratory therapists, licensed vocational nurses, environmental services, cooks, technicians, and more.

Sutter Health Responds

Sutter Health responded by issuing the following statement: “Sutter Health has been bargaining in good faith with SEIU–UHW since July and we remain committed to reaching a fair and sustainable agreement.

“It’s common for unions to take a strike authorization vote as part of the bargaining process, but SEIU–UHW has not called a strike.

“We look forward to being at the table next week to continue working toward a resolution that’s best for our employees, our patients and the communities we serve.”

Sutter Health’s spokesperson also provided the following link to additional information on the 2025 SEIU-UHW and Sutter Health Labor Negotiations: Get the Facts | Vitals.

About SEIU-UHW

SEIU-United Healthcare Workers West (SEIU-UHW) is a healthcare justice union of more than 120,000 healthcare workers, patients, and healthcare activists united to ensure affordable, accessible, high-quality care for all Californians provided by valued and respected healthcare workers. Learn more at www.seiu-uhw.org.

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.

Healthcare workers at 38 dialysis clinics vote to authorize strike over unfair labor practices

By Leave a Comment

 

Margin of 97% in favor as Fresenius, DaVita, U.S. Renal and Satellite violate workers’ rights instead of improving working conditions and care for patients receiving life-saving treatments 

Strike votes come as more Fresenius clinic workers join SEIU-UHW amid growing momentum for industry-wide change

UPDATE: The strike votes took place and would impact three clinics in Contra Costa County: Fresenius West Antioch, DaVita Concord and Fresenius Brentwood.

By Renée Saldaña, Press Secretary, SEUI – United Healthcare Workers West

OAKLAND, Calif. — Dialysis workers across California are preparing for unprecedented strikes aimed at addressing unfair labor practices over companies’ illegal union-busting tactics.  Workers are also concerned with unsafe working conditions. The same day the strike vote results were announced, frontline workers at Fresenius Kidney Care West March in Stockton voted to unite with SEIU-United Healthcare Workers West (SEIU-UHW), marking another victory in the ongoing historic wave of unionization at dialysis clinics across the state.

The strikes, which could involve approximately 900 frontline healthcare workers at more than 38 clinics statewide, represent a critical turning point in the fight to hold dialysis corporations accountable for prioritizing profits at the expense of patient care.

Dialysis caregivers are calling for executives at DaVita, Fresenius, Satellite Healthcare, and U.S. Renal Care to bargain with them in good faith over solutions to chronic staffing shortages, patient care concerns, and their demands for fair wages and to stop employing union-busting tactics in response to workers exercising their right to form their unions. They say this action is necessary to stop unfair labor practices and secure safer conditions for both workers and patients. The workers also want their employers to stop retaliating against caregivers who advocate for their rights and better patient care.

“After years of unsafe staffing, substandard working conditions, and anti-union behavior by management, dialysis workers have had enough,” said Easen PeBenito, a certified clinical hemodialysis technician at Satellite Healthcare Blossom Valley in San Jose. “We’re taking this stand not just for ourselves, but for the patients whose lives depend on safe and compassionate care. Dialysis executives have ignored our concerns and violated our rights for far too long, and our strike is a last resort to stop Satellite’s illegal behavior and demand better for everyone.”

For years, healthcare workers at DaVita, Fresenius, Satellite Healthcare, and U.S. Renal Care have raised alarms about understaffing, high turnover rates, low-wages, and unsafe working conditions at dialysis clinics, where patients with critical kidney failure receive life-sustaining dialysis treatments multiple times a week. Caregivers at dialysis clinics across California, from Sacramento to San Diego, have been organizing to improve patient care, working conditions, and job standards.

The historic unionization wave amongst dialysis workers gained even more momentum the same day the strike vote was announced, as workers at Fresenius West March in Stockton voted to join SEIU-UHW despite management’s anti-union campaign which included captive audience meetings, and one-on-one meetings conducted by company executives and a union busting consultant.

“We voted to unionize so we can take better care of our patients and our families,” said Arnold Ballesteros, a patient care technician at Fresenius West March in Stockton. “We’re so short-staffed that we’re constantly rushing to give our patients the attention they deserve. Many of us are working multiple jobs just to get by because our wages haven’t kept up with the cost of living, and we’re paid far less than other healthcare workers. This is why despite management’s anti-union campaign and unfair labor practices we voted overwhelmingly to join SEIU-UHW. By joining the union, we’re gaining the power to fight for safer staffing, better pay, and the ability to provide the best care possible for our patients.  Our strike is a message to our employer to stop committing unfair labor practices.”

As dialysis workers prepare to strike, the industry faces growing scrutiny from lawmakers and patient advocates, who are calling for reforms to improve transparency, safety, and accountability at dialysis clinics.

UPDATE: The strike votes took place and would impact three clinics in Contra Costa County: Fresenius West Antioch, DaVita Concord and Fresenius Brentwood.

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. Learn more at www.seiu-uhw.org.