After a series of strikes during the past two years protesting sweeping reductions in patient care, nurses’ standards and workplace conditions that Sutter Health system demanded during contract talks at San Francisco Bay area hospitals, some 3,000 registered nurses have reached a tentative agreement that eliminates more than 200 concession demands.

Some 4,500 RNs at 11 San Francisco Bay area hospitals—including 10 Sutter Health facilities—are holding a one-day strike today to dramatize the highly profitable health care chain’s demand for more than 100 sweeping reductions in patient care, community health services and nurse standards and workplace conditions. Sutter Health has made $4.2 billion in profits over the past five years, pays its CEO $4 million a year after a 215 percent raise and gives 21 top executives $1 million or more a year.

Today, some 4,500 RNs at eight Sutter Health hospitals in the San Francisco Bay Area are holding a one-day strike to dramatize the highly profitable health care chain’s demand for more than 100 sweeping reductions in patient care, nurse standards and workplace conditions.

Some 4,500 RNs at eight Sutter Health Bay Area hospitals will hold a one-day strike May 1 to dramatize the highly profitable health care chain’s demand for more than 100 sweeping reductions in patient care and nurses’ standards and workplace conditions. Sutter Health has made $4.2 billion in profits over the past five years, pays its CEO $4 million a year after a 215 percent raise and pays 21 top executives $1 million or more a year.

Registered nurses at Sutter Tracy Community Hospital in Northern California this week voted to join the California Nurses Association/National Nurses United (CNA/NNU). The more than 150 nurses say they faced an aggressive anti-union campaign of surveillance and harassment. But according to many nurses who voted to join CNA/NNU, those tactics backfired, underscoring the need for union representation.

From Santa Rosa to Fresno and from Sacramento to San Jose, 23,000 registered nurses walked picket lines, joined rallies and sent a strong message yesterday to three large employers that they will not accept reductions in patient services or cuts to nurses and other caregivers. The one-day strike by members of the California Nurses Association/National Nurses United (CNA/NNU) ended this morning at 7 a.m. PT.