Strikes slated for Oct. 30 in San Ramon, Manteca, Modesto, Turlock, Palm Springs, and Joshua Tree

Registered nurses at six Tenet hospitals in California have announced they will hold one-day strikes on Thursday, Oct. 30, to protest the multibillion-dollar hospital corporation’s refusal to address nurses’ deep concerns about patient care and safe staffing, announced California Nurses Association/National Nurses United (CNA/NNU). The 3,100 Tenet nurses, represented by CNA, have been in contract negotiations since February, with little to no movement on key issues. 

The nurses are slated to strike at the following hospitals: San Ramon Medical Center (San Ramon); Doctors Hospital Manteca (Manteca); Doctors Medical Center (Modesto); Emanuel Medical Center ( Turlock); Desert Regional Medical Center (Palm Springs); and Hi-Desert Medical Center (Joshua Tree). 

“It’s clear to the nurses that Tenet is prioritizing profits over patients”, said Joeton Labos, an ICU nurse at San Ramon Medical Center. “We continue to lose experienced nurses to other area hospitals, which jeopardizes our ability to provide safe patient care. We will do everything in our power to fight for our patients, and that includes going out on strike!“

Nurses delivered a 10-day notice of their strike to Tenet on Oct. 20 to allow management to make alternative plans for patient care. The nurses had voted unanimously to authorize a strike during the week of Sept. 8. 

Tenet RNs are urging management to invest in nursing staff and the communities served by its hospitals by agreeing to standards that ensure the highest quality of patient care:  

• Guaranteed meal and rest break coverage. Most nurses work 12-hour shifts and need time to eat and regroup so they can be present for all their patients.

• Improvements to recruitment and retention of experienced nurses. Experienced nurses are critical to safe patient care and serve as mentors to newer nurses.

• Lift teams to help with turning and lifting patients. Dedicated staff for the recurring task of lifting patients helps reduce injury to patients and nurses.

• Safe staffing at all times. When there are not adequate nurses and ancillary staff on a unit, patient care is delayed, which can lead to harm for our patients.

Tenet Healthcare Corporation is a multibillion-dollar health care company. Last year, Tenet made $4.1 billion in profits, a jump from $1.3 billion in 2023. The CEO, Saum Sutaria, is the highest-paid health care CEO in the country. Sutaria took home more than $24 million in 2024.

CNA represents 3,100 nurses at six Tenet hospitals in California. 

California Nurses Association/National Nurses United is the largest and fastest-growing union and professional association of registered nurses in the nation with more than 100,000 members in more than 200 facilities throughout California and more than 225,000 RNs nationwide.