Over the past two days, thousands of nurses at hospitals affiliated with Sutter Health staged a two-day walkout. While the majority of nurses plan to return to their jobs today, nurses at three of the 13 hospitals affected won't have that option right away. At Alta Bates Summit, Eden and Sutter Solano medical centers, contracts with replacement nurses extend beyond today, so some staff nurses won't return to the job until next week.

The nurse strike, which also affected two non-Sutter facilities, was called by the California Nurses Association [1], which contends that the Sutter facilities aren't hiring enough nurses to provide safe care.

To learn more about the lockout:
- read this San Francisco Chronicle piece [2]

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Beth Israel, union fight war of words. Report [4]
SEIU plans to form healthcare unit. Report [5]
After battle with SEIU, Sutter officials must pay staff for lockout. Report [6]