Strike Looms: UCSF Workers Fight for Fair Pay and Union Rights

STAY TUNED, FOLKS! The healthcare workers at UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital Oakland are gearing up for a showdown with the University of California. An open-ended strike is set to begin on June 18, 2025, and it’s all about fighting for fair pay and union rights. Let’s dive into the details and see why this is a battle you won’t want to miss!

WHY THE STRIKE?

The National Union of Healthcare Workers (NUHW), representing over 1,300 employees, is standing up against UCSF Health’s “Integration Plan.” This plan, set to take effect on July 6, 2025, would effectively terminate current employees and rehire them as direct UCSF employees. The catch? Workers would see a significant reduction in their take-home pay, primarily due to increased costs for health and retirement benefits. THIS IS A NAKED MONEY GRAB BY THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA AGAINST WORKERS IN OAKLAND!

THE NUMBERS DON’T LIE!

THE FIGHT FOR UNION RIGHTS

The integration plan would also cancel union contracts, forcing workers into UC unions with less favorable terms. DOZENS OF WORKERS WOULD LOSE UNION REPRESENTATION ALTOGETHER AND BECOME AT-WILL EMPLOYEES! This is a direct attack on the rights of healthcare workers, and it’s a fight that NUHW is not backing down from.

THE STRIKE: WHAT TO EXPECT

The strike, set to begin on June 18, 2025, will involve nursing assistants, respiratory therapists, housekeepers, clerical workers, and medical technicians. PICKET LINE DETAILS WILL BE RELEASED THE WEEK OF THE STRIKE, SO STAY TUNED FOR MORE INFORMATION!

THE LEGAL BATTLE

NUHW has already filed a grievance and a lawsuit seeking to compel arbitration. A federal judge is scheduled to hear the case on June 26, 2025. THIS IS A FIGHT FOR THE RIGHTS OF HEALTHCARE WORKERS, AND WE NEED TO STAND TOGETHER TO PROTECT THEM!

THE IMPACT ON PATIENT CARE

The strike could have significant implications for patient care at UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital Oakland. With fewer caregivers and disrupted services, patients in the East Bay could face longer wait times and reduced quality of care. THIS IS A FIGHT FOR THE FUTURE OF HEALTHCARE IN THE EAST BAY, AND WE NEED TO STAND UP FOR OUR COMMUNITY!

THE BROADER IMPLICATIONS

The strike is not just about pay and union rights; it’s about the future of healthcare in the East Bay. UCSF Health’s integration plan could lead to a reduction in the number of available caregivers, as experienced workers consider leaving or retiring rather than starting over as UCSF employees with no seniority and a completely different pension plan. THIS IS A FIGHT FOR THE FUTURE OF HEALTHCARE IN THE EAST BAY, AND WE NEED TO STAND UP FOR OUR COMMUNITY!

THE CALL TO ACTION

So, what can you do? STAND WITH THE HEALTHCARE WORKERS AT UCSF BENIOFF CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL OAKLAND! Support their fight for fair pay and union rights, and help ensure that patients in the East Bay continue to receive the high-quality care they deserve. THIS IS A FIGHT FOR THE FUTURE OF HEALTHCARE IN THE EAST BAY, AND WE NEED TO STAND UP FOR OUR COMMUNITY!