Protestors rallied at Alta Bates Summit Medical Center in Oakland on Wednesday to pressure Sutter Health on behalf of patients and workers who are affected by high health care prices and short staffing.
The Service Employees International Union-United Healthcare Workers West, or SEIU-UHW, promoted the rally in protest of Sutter Health’s purported neglect toward health care quality despite accumulating more than $800 million during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a rally flyer.
“While we continue to bargain in good faith and support our healthcare workers as they care for our communities, we are disappointed that SEIU chose to take this unnecessary action,” said Sutter Health spokesperson Monique Binkley Smith in an email. “We remain focused on reaching a shared resolution and continuing to provide safe, compassionate patient care.”