Patient care technical workers at the University of California Medical Centers across the State announced March 14 they voted in favor of an Unfair Labor Practice Strike and notified the institution of their intent to picket March 24 to 29.
A notice of intent to strike was sent to university administrators March 13.
The UCLA Medical Center in Westwood and as well as the satellite facility in Santa Monica would be directly affected by the strike, if it takes places.
About 97 percent of the 13,000 patient care technical workers, who are represented by the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 3299, were in favor of authorizing the strike.
Union official allege University of California officials have engaged in illegal and bad faith bargaining in negotiating benefits and contract terms for the patient care workers.
“This includes unilateral implementation of contract terms and benefit cuts, and the university’s 11th hour demands for sweeping new layoff powers, which could leave UC Health facilities short-staffed and patients vulnerable in the event of medical emergencies,” a statement from AFSCME Local 3299 said.
The union announced it filed Unfair Labor Practice charges with the Public Employment Relations Board; the filing includes details of each alleged violation, according to AFSCME Local 3299.
“It increasingly appears that UC is willing to break the law and endanger patients in the pursuit of profit and financial rewards for its highest paid executives,” UCLA Clinical Care Partner and AFSCME 3299 Unfair Labor Practice Committee Member Monica Martinez stated. “This would be unacceptable for any hospital—but it is especially deplorable when it comes from a non-profit, public health delivery system that is subsidized by California taxpayers.”
The labor union cites University of California hospitals earned more than $632 million in profits in 2013 and annual hospital administration payroll costs increasing by $100 million since 2009.
If realized March 24, AFSCME Local 3299’s patient care technical workers will be participating in their second unfair labor practice strike in six months; the group of works also struck Nov. 20, 2013.
In addition to the UCLA Medical Center campuses in Westwood and Santa Monica, the strike will also impact hospitals and health care facilities at UC Davis, UC Irvine, UC San Diego, and UC San Francisco.
AFSCME Local 3299 also announced 49 patient care technical workers are voluntary exempted from a potential strike, including Respiratory Therapists in the PICU, NICU and Burn Units, as well as several Hemodialysis Technicians.
A Patient Protection Task Force will be created “to handle any emergent medical needs that could arise during the strike.”
Strikers plan to take to the picket line at their respective medical center locations at 4 a.m. on March 24 and continue striking until March 29 at 3:59 a.m.
A similar strike involving AFSCME Local 3299’s service workers was planned for March 3 at each University of California medical center; however, that strike was averted when both parties came to terms on a labor deal.
Under the supervision of nurse practitioners or physicians, patient care technicians often take vital signs of a hospital guest.
