Dems to walk health workers' picket line

The Sonoma County Democratic Party, at a Sept. 13 meeting of its Central Committee, passed a resolution supporting a Sept. 22 strike by the California Nurses Association (CNA) and the National Union of Healthcare Workers (NUHW).

Local Democrats will join CNA picket lines at Kaiser Santa Rosa and Sutter Santa Rosa as part of a statewide, 24-hour sympathy strike involving 23,000 nurses at 34 hospitals.

The CNA strike is being held in support of NUHW health care professionals and nurses, who are planning one-day, two-day and three-day walkouts to protest Kaiser’s plan to reduce their health care and retirement benefits.

Nurses will also engage in a simultaneous one-day strike against Sutter Hospital’s demands for cuts in patient care and services in addition to reductions in RNs’ benefits.

 “Democrats have a long history of fighting for workers’ rights, and we’re proud to stand in support of the hard-working nurses and health care workers who serve on the front lines of the war that’s currently being waged against working people in our country,” said Stephen Gale, chair of the Sonoma County Democratic Party.

"I’m so proud to be a member of the Sonoma County Democratic Party," said Mike Smith, a former nurse and retired union representative who wrote the support resolution.

"On Sept. 22, we will be standing together with thousands of CNA and NUHW nurses and health care professionals across California who are saying no to unnecessary and cynical takeaways by two of the largest and most successful health care institutions in the country, Kaiser and Sutter,” Smith added.