Technical employees at San Diego's Rady Children's Hospital, represented by the United Nurses of Children's Hospital (UNOCH) Teamsters Local 1699, have voted overwhelmingly to authorize a potential strike, following a breakdown in contract negotiations with hospital management. According to a statement released by Rady Children's Hospital, the vote for strike authorization does not guarantee a strike but prepares for that possibility if an agreement on a new contract is not reached. The current labor agreement is set to expire on July 5, and should a strike be called, the union must provide a 10-day notice to the hospital.
In a recent update from NBC 7 San Diego, Rady Children's Hospital has stated, "Rady Children’s is fully committed to reaching a fair and timely agreement with UNOCH/Teamsters Local 1699." Despite this assurance, the union's decision to vote indicates a deep-seated concern among workers regarding wages, staffing levels, and working conditions. Katie Langenstrass, Executive Director of UNOCH Teamsters Local 1699, told Teamsters Joint Council 42, "Our members were forced into this position because the hospital refuses to invest in the very people who care for San Diego’s children."
Workers, including Respiratory Therapists, Lab Technicians, Licensed Vocational Nurses, Surgical Technologists, Pharmacy Techs, and many others, claim they have contended with low wages, rising medical premiums, and understaffing. The expensive living costs in San Diego have not been matched by their wages, adding pressure to an already stressful work environment. Jennifer Pratt, a Radiology Technologist at Rady Children's, voiced her concerns via Teamsters Joint Council 42: "Many of us are being pushed farther and farther from the communities we serve, or we're watching our coworkers leave for better-paying jobs at other hospitals."
This isn't the first time Rady Children's Hospital has faced labor disputes. Last year, a historic walkout involved 1,600 nurses, underlining ongoing issues with how the hospital values its frontline staff. If an agreement isn't reached at the bargaining table with negotiations set to resume on Tuesday, July 1, there could be significant impacts on surgeries and essential hospital services.
