Hundreds of hospital workers picket outside UC Davis Medical Center [Video link]

By Leticia Ordaz

Union calls for strike at 5 hospitals

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (KCRA) —Hundreds of hospital workers who say staffing levels are too low are on strike Wednesday outside the UC Davis Medical Center in Sacramento.

Union workers also called for the strike in response to what they called intimidation by hospital management after employees participated in a strike earlier this year.

The strike comes on the heels of an injunction granted by a Sacramento County judge that will keep some University of California hospital employees from taking part in the strike.

Hospital officials said striking is not the answer because it will hurt patient care, but the union agreed to exempt 50 critical care workers from the strike who will continue to serve patients in the emergency room and trauma centers.

Despite that concession, the medical center has canceled certain elective surgeries.

Union leaders called for strikes at the University of California’s five medical centers, where kidney transplants were put off for the day at some, according to UC officials.

In Sacramento, the large group of protesters gathered outside the hospital with large signs. The activity woke up some patients when the demonstration began around 6 a.m.

The protest is expected to continue until 7 p.m.

[Source]: KCRA – Video link