Donna Gerber

Nurses on strike at eight Bay Area hospitals are wrapping up their ten-day action as their union makes plans to support two Democrats vying for open state seats in moderate Republican districts.

The California Nurses Association has had 4,000 of their 80,000 members picketing the Sutter Health medical facilities since March 21. This is CNA’s third strike against Sutter since November and it ends Sunday. The CNA is known for aggressive public actions like this and over the years it also has protested Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger when he’s appeared at various women or health-related events, loudly promoting bills he has opposed such as single-payer health care.

This year the nurses union also is backing two Democrats vying for open seats which are being vacated by Republicans.