Petaluma Valley Hospital Axing 11

The parent company of a Petaluma Valley Hospital on Wednesday announced job cuts that will cost the city 11 jobs, the Santa Rosa Press Democrat reports.

St. Joseph Health will cut 37 county hospital workers, with an additional 26 layoffs at Santa Rosa Memorial, the report said.

Company officials cited shrinking revenues under the the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare, as a pivotal factor in the job cuts, the report said. St. Joseph's employs 2,149 in Sonoma County.

The layoffs will save the company $3 million annually, the report says.

The staff reduction is part of a restructuring plan the company says will save $15 million over the next two years.

The layoffs occurred amid contentious negotiations between the company and a union representing 650 Santa Rosa nurses, the report said.