The California Nurses Association filed a grievance with the city of San Francisco recently, claiming that Sutter Health's San Francisco hospitals engaged in discriminatory hiring practices. Specifically, the CNA alleged that Sutter Health's California Pacific Medical Center and St. Luke's Hospital banned the hiring of Filipino nurses.

The CNA and Filipino community and church groups held a press conference, asking the San Francisco Human Rights Commission to launch an investigation into Sutter's employment discrimination on the basis of national origin, race and ethnicity.

The CNA points to the hospitals' hiring data to support their discrimination allegations, arguing that there was a major demographic shift beginning in early 2008. For example, prior to February 2008, Filipino nurses accounted for 65% of St. Luke's RNs. After February 2008, Filipino nurses accounted for only 10% of RNs hired.

Further, CNA revealed at a press conference that former nursing supervisors at CPMC have personally experienced the discriminatory practices. For example, a former director of Critical Care Services at CPMC stated that he was told by the vice president of nursing not to hire any Filipinos. Another former employee stated he heard the vice president of nursing tell a supervisor not to hire foreign graduate nurses.  

Warren Browner, MD, CEO of CPMC, denied the allegations and stated they were "designed to cover up the union's own failure to win a contract despite three years of negotiations." Browner stated that diversity and equal opportunity employment were a top priority at CPMC.

Further, Sutter has brought forth Filipino nurses who deny the allegations of employment discrimination. One Filipino clinical nurse manager stated that she believes the CNA was trying to make the hospitals look bad, while another nurse called the union "desperate."

Source: Health Leaders Media "Nurses Allege Employment Discrimination at SF Hospitals" 8/23/10