Hospital Workers Press for Accountability for Sutter Health´s Wall Street Mentality
Labor Desk
October 30, 2009
Say not-for-profit puts profits over patients, employees.
San Francisco – Hundreds of hospital workers from St. Luke´s Hospital – a campus of one of Sutter Health´s most successful medical centers – picketed to draw attention to Sutter Health´s Wall Street mentality and to call for a return to Sutter´s guiding principles of patient care and being a responsible employer.
In the second quarter of 2009 Sutter reported a net income of $281 million. This was a $100 million increase from the same quarter last year. Additionally, their investment income for the second quarter was $143 million, up $185 million from the same quarter last year. Despite these impressive numbers, Sutter purports to be a not-for-profit organization.
"For a non-profit institution, Sutter management seems all too ready to put profit over fairly treating those who dedicate themselves day in and day out to providing top quality care," Robert Klimzcak, a Unit Coordinator who has worked at St. Luke´s for 4 years said. "It's time for Sutter management to remember its role in the community and its commitment to its patients and employees."
Far from remembering its commitment to its employees, Sutter Health has left its workers without a contract for over a year – drawing out and delaying the contract negotiations. In fact the negotiations are revealing a company of contrasts. Sutter Health has tried to build a reputation as a great healthcare company and a company that takes care of its employees. Yet now the company is refusing to provide full-employer paid healthcare.
"Sutter holds itself out as both a great healthcare company and a company that takes care of its employees," Carl Lewis, a food service aide at St. Luke´s said. "That they are now trying to refuse employees full employer paid health care flies in the face of both of those claims."
Sutter employees said that they would continue to point out management´s tendency to put people over profits.
"As a leading health care provider and employer in the community, it is critical that we continue the conversation about how we make sure Sutter keeps its promise to the community it serves, which includes employees," Lewis said.
San Francisco – Hundreds of hospital workers from St. Luke´s Hospital – a campus of one of Sutter Health´s most successful medical centers – picketed to draw attention to Sutter Health´s Wall Street mentality and to call for a return to Sutter´s guiding principles of patient care and being a responsible employer.
In the second quarter of 2009 Sutter reported a net income of $281 million. This was a $100 million increase from the same quarter last year. Additionally, their investment income for the second quarter was $143 million, up $185 million from the same quarter last year. Despite these impressive numbers, Sutter purports to be a not-for-profit organization.
"For a non-profit institution, Sutter management seems all too ready to put profit over fairly treating those who dedicate themselves day in and day out to providing top quality care," Robert Klimzcak, a Unit Coordinator who has worked at St. Luke´s for 4 years said. "It's time for Sutter management to remember its role in the community and its commitment to its patients and employees."
Far from remembering its commitment to its employees, Sutter Health has left its workers without a contract for over a year – drawing out and delaying the contract negotiations. In fact the negotiations are revealing a company of contrasts. Sutter Health has tried to build a reputation as a great healthcare company and a company that takes care of its employees. Yet now the company is refusing to provide full-employer paid healthcare.
"Sutter holds itself out as both a great healthcare company and a company that takes care of its employees," Carl Lewis, a food service aide at St. Luke´s said. "That they are now trying to refuse employees full employer paid health care flies in the face of both of those claims."
Sutter employees said that they would continue to point out management´s tendency to put people over profits.
"As a leading health care provider and employer in the community, it is critical that we continue the conversation about how we make sure Sutter keeps its promise to the community it serves, which includes employees," Lewis said.
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