The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) union, which represents more than 12,500 University of California patient care employees, has asked its members to strike at UC medical centers May 21–22. AFSCME-represented service workers and members of the University Professional and Technical Employees (UPTE) union, which represents about 3,300 UC health care professionals, are expected to hold sympathy strikes.
Please check back at this page for updates.
May 23: Dr. John Stobo, UC senior vice president for health sciences and services, issued this statement, at the end of the strike at UC medical centers.
May 21, 8:40 a.m.: The UCLA Health System issued the following statement: "Despite a strike by two unions, both the Westwood and Santa Monica campuses of the UCLA Health System are open and providing the safest and highest quality care to our patients. With careful planning and the professionalism and dedication of many union employees who put patients first and came to work today, the UCLA Health System is taking care of the health care needs of our community."
May 20: UCLA Health System has taken steps in anticipation of a strike, including postponment of surgeries and reducing the patient census at hospitals. Full statement.
May 20: UC announced that in response to a request filed by the California Public Employment Relations Board (PERB), Sacramento Superior Court Judge David l. Brown issued an injunction limiting the number of union employees that may strike UC medical centers (see copy of injunction).
May 17: UC announced that the California Public Employment Relations Board (PERB) will seek a temporary restraining order in Sacramento Superior Court on Monday, May 20, to curtail the number striking employees represented by two unions at UC's five medical centers.
May 17: UC issued a statement by Dr. John Stobo, UC senior vice president for health sciences and services, about the human impact of the strike scheduled for May 21–22 at UC medical centers.
May 10: UC announced it would seek a restraining order against the AFSCME, in response to an announcement from the union that it was asking UC patient care and service employees to strike at UC medical centers May 21–22.
May 8: The UCLA Health System issued a statement regarding AFSCME's announcement that it would ask the UC patient care and service employees it represents at UCLA Health System hospitals and clinics to strike. (Statement updated May 14.)
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