Registered nurses at Providence Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital began a two-day strike on Tuesday, Oct. 27.

The union's side

  • The Staff Nurses Association represents 795 nurses at the hospital, and 98% of them voted to authorize the strike, according to association president Peter Brackner, as quoted by The Press Democrat.
  • Their contract expired Sept. 30. The next day, the union filed an unfair labor practice charge with the National Labor Relations Board. It says Providence did not share its economic proposal, including wages, in time for a meaningful response.
  • Brackner said the hospital may seek to raise benefit costs, cut night-shift differentials, and eliminate 401(a) retirement plans.

The hospital's side

  • In an Oct. 21 statement, Providence called a strike notice at this stage "unfortunate and unusual," because wage talks are "in the very early stages."
  • It said it has contracted qualified replacement nurses and that the strike will have no impact on patient care.
  • "Strikes don't settle contracts; they delay them," the hospital said. It plans to return to bargaining after the strike ends.