UC health workers on one-day strike
SAN DIEGO (CNS) – Thousands of University of California health care
workers across the state — including San Diego and La Jolla — are taking part
in a one-day strike Wednesday alleging unfair labor practices — a job action UC
officials said reduces patients to “bargaining chips” in a work dispute.
Patient care technical workers and service workers represented by the
American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Local 3299 will
picket throughout the day at hospitals and clinics statewide, including at UC
San Diego medical campuses in San Diego and La Jolla. The union represents more
than 22,000 UC hospital workers across the state.
Union officials accuse hospital administrators of harassing and
intimidating workers who advocated for “safe staffing standards” by taking
part in a two-day walkout in May.
“Our members have both the legal right and more responsibility to stand
up for the safety of the students and patients we serve,” said AFSCME 3299
President Kathryn Lybarger. “By attempting to silence workers, UC hasn't just
repeatedly broken the law — it has willfully endangered all who come to UC to
learn, to heal and to build a better life for their families.”
Dr. John Stobo, senior vice president for UC Health Sciences and
Services, countered that money is at the heart of the dispute, not concern for
patients.
“By calling for a strike for a second time in seven months, AFSCME
leaders again are putting patients at UC medical centers and student health
centers in the middle of a labor dispute,” Stobo said. “This is completely
inappropriate and unfair to the people we are here to serve. Our patients and
students are not bargaining chips. They deserve better.”
Stobo said the university made updated offers to the union earlier this
month “and showed significant movement on wages pensions, health care benefits
and other issues. AFSCME rejected all of our offers.”
“We have the highest standards of excellence and we will continue
delivering care that meets those standards during this strike,” he said.
“Still, this strike by AFSCME will hurt the very patients the union claims to
be protecting, which makes us believe it can only be about one thing —
money.”
Stobo noted that more than 100 patients have had elective surgeries
canceled due to the strike, and one patient will have a planned kidney
transplant delayed.
Union officials said they were committed to patient protection, claiming
it has formed a task force to handle emergency needs at the hospitals if they
arise during the strike and has exempted dozens of critical care workers from
taking part in the walkout.
Members of the California Nurses Association had been scheduled to join
the walkout in a show of solidarity, but it announced over the weekend it had
reached a tentative contract deal with the UC system and would not be taking
part in the strike.
Patient care technical workers include technicians for ultrasounds, X-
rays, MRIs, mammograms and other tests, radiation therapists for cancer
patients, pharmacy technicians and respiratory therapists, according to UC.
On Tuesday, a judge in Sacramento issued an injunction limiting the
number of workers who can take part in the strike to ensure employees who
perform essential functions remain on the job.
