Thousands of University of California Healthcare, Research Employees Vote to Strike

Systemic and Ongoing Staffing Shortages Erode Patient Care and Hurt Research Operations

Thousands of University of California healthcare, research and technical employees have voted to authorize a strike, citing systemic and ongoing staffing shortages that erode patient care and hurt research operations.

Union Demands Bargaining in Good Faith and an End to Unfair Labor Practices

The strike authorization comes amid strained negotiations between the university and University Professional and Technical Employees-CWA Local 9119, the union representing nearly 20,000 employees in various research labs and medical facilities across the 10-campus UC system.

Unionized Workers Include Nurse Case Managers, Mental Health Counselors, and IT Analysts

The unionized workers include nurse case managers, mental health counselors, optometrists, pharmacists, physical therapists, clinical researchers, IT analysts, and animal health technicians.

A Three-Day Strike Planned for February 26

The union said it’s planning a three-day strike beginning February 26, which could affect operations at hospitals and clinics as well as research at the UC on cancer, food safety, virology, climate change, and other issues.

Lab Technicians at UC Davis Critical to Bird Flu Research

Among union members are lab technicians at a UC Davis lab critical to California’s efforts to track and prevent bird flu as it spreads through cattle herds.

Union Accuses UC of Unfair Labor Practices

The union accuses UC of unlawfully imposing “draconian” restrictions on where workers can picket and retaliating against some employees at UC San Francisco who participated in a two-day work stoppage in November.

Union Seeks Meaningful Discussion on Staffing Vacancies and Recruitment

Union officials said the university has improperly raised healthcare costs and has refused to engage meaningfully in discussion of staffing vacancies and recruitment and promotions.

Union President Dan Russell: “We’re Hoping This Will Send a Message to UC About Our Members Being Fed Up with These Unfair Labor Practices”

Union President Dan Russell said in a statement, “We’re hoping this will send a message to UC about our members being fed up with these unfair labor practices. We hope this will produce a change in UC’s behavior.”

Strike Authorization Vote: 98% in Favor

Union members voted overwhelmingly in support of the strike authorization, with 98% voting in favor. The union declined to provide a count of total votes cast, although it has said that at least 9,000 votes were submitted in the first week.

University Response: “We Have Offered Robust Wages and Benefits”

For its part, the university denies that it faces a staffing crisis and said it has offered robust wages and benefits. It accused UPTE of prematurely leaving the bargaining table and declared negotiations were at an impasse without responding to UC’s previous offers.

University Prepared for a Strike

In the event of a strike, the university is prepared to make every effort to ensure the critical operations of the University system, which includes patient care, continue at a level of excellence that UC patients, students, faculty, and staff expect.

FAQs

• Q: Why are University of California healthcare, research and technical employees planning to strike?
• A: The employees are planning to strike due to systemic and ongoing staffing shortages that erode patient care and hurt research operations.
• Q: What is the union’s main demand?
• A: The union is demanding bargaining in good faith and an end to unfair labor practices.
• Q: Who are the unionized workers?
• A: The unionized workers include nurse case managers, mental health counselors, optometrists, pharmacists, physical therapists, clinical researchers, IT analysts, and animal health technicians.
• Q: When is the planned strike?
• A: The planned strike is set to begin on February 26 for three days.