ON PROPOSED UC HOSPITAL STRIKE INJUNCTION, JUDGE CONCURS WITH AFSCME’S EFFORTS TO PROTECT PUBLIC SAFETY
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 20, 2013
CONTACT: Todd Stenhouse, [email protected],
(916) 397-1131
ON PROPOSED UC HOSPITAL STRIKE INJUNCTION, JUDGE CONCURS WITH AFSCME’S EFFORTS TO PROTECT PUBLIC SAFETY
AFSCME Patient Protection Plan will provide Respiratory Therapists for PICU, NICU and Burn Units, Patient Protection Task Force for Other Emergent Needs that Arise
Oakland: In a ruling issued moments ago, a Sacramento Superior Court Judge has agreed with AFSCME 3299’s proposal to exempt certain employees who provide respiratory therapy in the NICU, PICU and Burn Units from participation in this week’s planned two day strike of UC Medical Centers by the system’s 13,000 Patient Care Technical Workers. The judge further agreed with AFSCME that nearly two dozen additional employees that the Public Employment Relations Board had argued should be covered by the limited injunction, will be allowed to strike and to participate in the union’s Patient Protection Task force that has been assembled to meet emergent needs during the two day walkout.
Approximately 100 Patient Care Technical Employees will be required to work during the two day strike. UC had proposed an injunction that would have blocked over 13,000 UC Patient Technical Workers and more than 2,000 hospital service workers from Strike participation.
“Today’s ruling affirms our members right to advocate for their patients and reassures the public that there will be no imminent health and safety risks associated with this week’s strike,” AFSCME 3299 President Kathryn Lybarger. “The court has honored our members’ commitment to protect patient safety, and to stand up to UC’s unsafe staffing practices and reckless cost cutting, which are too often putting our patients at risk.”
UC Patient Care Technical Workers include Respiratory Therapists, Nursing Aides, Radiologists, Certified Nursing Assistants, MRI Technologists, Licensed Vocational Nurses, Surgical Technicians, Diagnostic Sonographers, Pathology Lab Technicians, Pharmacy Technicians, OR Technicians, and many others.
