http://www.counterpunch.org/2011/09/27/biggest-healthcare-strike-ever/California healthcare workers have now taken their fight to another level – on Thursday, September 22, some 21,000 struck the huge Kaiser Permanente chain, 24 major medical centers – while more struck Sutter, Kaiser’s healthcare partner in crime, also a giant in the California hospital business. It was the biggest single strike in healthcare history!
It is difficult to exaggerate the significance of these strikes. In the face of a deafening chorus preaching austerity, of the near universal demand – from corporations to politicians – for concessions, these workers have said no; no they will not give back what they have fought for years to win, and they are not willing to give up what other workers should have. And certainly not give up to these grotesquely wealthy hospital chains and their millionaire managers.
Let’s get right to the point. Kaiser has made $5.7 billion since 2009; $1.6 billion since the beginning of the year. Kaiser CEO George Halvorson was paid more than $8 million in total compensation in 2009 alone. Sutter sits on $11.6 billion in assets. It has recorded S3.7 billion in profits since 2005. It has twenty top executives who receive more than $1 million each.
Yet, of course, Kaiser is trying to force deep cuts in workers’ healthcare and retirement benefits. Sutter RN’s are protesting no less than 200 sweeping company demands.
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