Strong Letter to Follow...

Well, folks, it seems that Sutter Health Systems has decided to do a bit of layoff action at California Pacific Medical Center. It's a good thing that Zombie UHW is on the case...

"We want to assure the public that we will pursue every avenue possible to protect these jobs and vital patient services," said Dave Regan, Trustee of SEIU UHW, which represents roughly 5,000 workers at Sutter. "We are holding Sutter management accountable and will make sure that they are not using the economy as an excuse to cut staff and harm patient care."

• Sutter's endowment was $3.3 billion in 2007 and, despite dips in investments, remained at roughly $3 billion at the end of 2008.
• However operating revenue grew from $7.65 billion in 2007 to $8.28 billion in 2008, demonstrating that Sutter Health has continued to grow even during the economic downturn.
• While a 'non-profit' legally, for the last five years Sutter has reported operating income exceeding $428 million each year.

"People across California are losing their jobs, and the health care industry is not immune," said Marcelino Robies, a 28-year environmental services employee at Sutter's CPMC in San Francisco. "However, if Sutter cuts 200 workers, the quality of the service at the hospital will go down. That is why we need to unite as health care workers and with the community to fight for our families and patients."

SEIU UHW members expect and demand that Sutter CPMC negotiate over any decision to cut jobs and risk quality patient care: "We will be holding management accountable for every lost job and every lost hour of work time, ensuring that Sutter pursue every avenue possible before making those cuts," Regan said.

Oooh, good one there, Dave. I'm sure that the Sutter Bigwigs are just quaking in their boots at your expression of a threat of expectation of accountability.

What's next, the Comfy Chair?