SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - Nurses at seven San Francisco Bay area hospitals operated by Sutter Health have walked off the job as part of a one-day strike.
    
Chuck Idelson, a spokesman for the California Nurses Association, said Tuesday that the strike will affect 3,500 registered nurses and several hundred respiratory and X-ray technicians at Sutter facilities in Alameda and San Mateo counties.
    
The walkout is the fifth strike organized by the union since September, including a strike last month at 10 Sutter Health hospitals and Petaluma Valley Hospital.
    
Tuesday's strike comes as union officials and Sutter management continue to clash over sick leave, health care payments, staffing levels and other issues.

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