Strike at Children’s Hospital Oakland: A Battle for Workers' Rights and Patient Care

DAY 9: Children’s Hospital Oakland Strike

STRIKING WORKERS HEAD TO SAN FRANCISCO FOR CRUCIAL HEARING!

Listen up, folks! The battle for workers' rights and patient care at Children’s Hospital Oakland is heating up. Today, dozens of striking healthcare workers are making the trek to San Francisco for a federal court hearing that could decide the fate of their union contracts and the future of care in the East Bay.

WHAT’S AT STAKE?

The National Union of Healthcare Workers (NUHW) is seeking a temporary injunction to stop UCSF’s “integration plan” from going into effect on July 6. This plan, if implemented, would cancel union contracts and sharply reduce the take-home pay of East Bay workers. We’re talking about a loss of $10,000 on average for these dedicated caregivers!

THE FIGHT FOR FAIRNESS

NUHW members have been on strike since last Wednesday, standing up for their rights and the quality of care for Oakland’s kids. Fran Merriweather, a social worker at the hospital, put it bluntly: “What UCSF is trying to do violates our contracts and would push out long-tenured workers who have dedicated their careers to serving kids in Oakland.”

THE COURT BATTLE

U.S. Chief District Judge Richard Seeborg will hear NUHW’s motion for a temporary restraining order. The goal? To keep the status quo until an arbitrator can determine if UCSF’s plan violates the hospital’s union contracts. NUHW has also filed a separate motion to compel arbitration, set for a hearing on July 17.

THE SCHEDULE

- 11:30 AM: Striking workers board a bus at 747 52nd Street in Oakland.

- 1:30 PM: Hearing begins at the San Francisco Courthouse, Courtroom 3 – 17th Floor, 450 Golden Gate Avenue.

- Audio Live-Stream: Available via Judge Seeborg’s webpage.

THE PICKET LINE CONTINUES

- Monday – Friday: 7 AM to 4:30 PM, outside Children’s Hospital Oakland, 747 52nd St., Oakland.

- Saturday and Sunday: 10 AM to 1 PM, outside Children’s Hospital Oakland, 747 52nd St., Oakland.

- Monday and Wednesday: 8 AM to 11 AM, outside Children’s Hospital Oakland Outpatient Center, 2401 Shadelands Dr, Walnut Creek.

THE BIG PICTURE

This isn’t just about money; it’s about the future of healthcare in the East Bay. UCSF’s plan threatens to reduce services and push out experienced caregivers. Jackki Patrick, a patient care assistant at the hospital for over thirty years, summed it up: “UCSF will not improve care in Oakland by pushing out dedicated caregivers who have made our hospital so welcoming to local families.”

THE NUMBERS DON’T LIE

THE TAKEAWAY

This is a fight for fairness, for workers’ rights, and for the quality of care that Oakland’s kids deserve. Stay tuned for updates, and remember: YOU NEED TO STAND WITH THESE WORKERS! Their fight is our fight, and together, we can ensure that healthcare remains a priority for all.