Nurses at Rady Children’s Hospital have voted to authorize a strike after negotiations with management broke down, the union announced in a statement Wednesday.
United Nurses of Children’s Hospital, the Teamsters union local that represents more than 1,500 nurses at the hospital, said after months of negotiations and failure to secure a contract, the vote Tuesday was overwhelmingly in favor of going on strike.
“Rady Children’s Hospital has forced our hand,” said Katie Langenstrass, executive director of UNOCH Teamsters Local 1699. “Our members are passionate about their work and their patients. However, the hospital’s persistent undervaluation of their dedication and skill has left us no choice.”
“Despite the hospital’s total operating revenue increasing to $1.6 billion in 2023, they continue to refuse to compensate our members fairly. All while its nurses are working multiple jobs to make ends meet. It’s just not right,” she said.
The nurses’ bargaining team rejected a three-year contract that Rady administration said would have increased an average salary by 22% over the period.
Despite the authorization vote, union officials did not announce a strike date.
Registered nurse Marie Wahl said the strike vote was about more than pay.
“Many of our colleagues leave after just one to two years for better-paying positions at other hospitals,” she said. “This constant turnover disrupts patient care and places an unfair burden on those of us who are left.”
City News Service contributed to this article.
