Sharp HealthCare employees vote to authorize 5-day strike

SAN DIEGO (KGTV) — Frontline healthcare workers with SEIU-United Healthcare Workers West (SEIU-UHW) voted Friday to authorize a five-day strike to protest Sharp Healthcare.

According to a news release issued by the union, the strike was approved by a 92 percent affirmative vote of approximately 5,000 health care workers at Sharp Grossmont Hospital, Sharp HospiceCare, Chula Vista Medical Center, Memorial Hospital, Mesa Hospital Vista and Mary Birth Hospital for Women. and Newborns.

Opening negotiations between the union and Sharp Healthcare began in late 2023 and, after more than 33 bargaining sessions, have yet to reach a first contract agreement.

Health care workers, according to the statement, said Sharp executives failed to acknowledge problems, including low staffing at the facilities and low wages.

“Understaffing and low wages are putting patients and workers at risk as workers struggle to meet patient needs and many front-line carers at Sharp facilities are forced to commute to work due to a lack of affordable housing ,” SEIU-UHW said in the release.

The strike vote applies to the following job categories:

Certified Nursing Assistants, Certified Nursing Assistants, Respiratory Care Practitioners, Pharmacy Technicians, Patient Transporters, Radiologic Technologists, Surgical Technologists, Laboratory Technicians, Nursing Facility Clerks

The union says there are many other health care workers who would be affected by Friday’s vote.

ABC 10News has reached out to Sharp Healthcare for a statement and is awaiting a response.