Workers at five HCA Healthcare facilities in California have voted to authorize a five-day strike as the two sides continue contract negotiations.
The strike, set to start May 22, would involve around 3,000 SEIU-UHW members working at HCA’s Good Samaritan Hospital and its Regional Medical Center in San Jose; Los Robles Medical Center in Thousand Oaks; West Hills Hospital in West Hills; and Riverside Community Hospital in Riverside.
SEIU-UHW and HCA has several bargaining dates scheduled over the next few weeks to negotiate a contract for union members at these facilities, the union and the health system said. The previous contract expired.
Should the union strike, HCA is preparing to ensure that patients are still able to access care and necessary medical resources, a spokesperson said in an emailed statement.
Key issues raised by the union include staffing shortages, low wages and worker safety. The hospital system called the union’s decision to take a strike vote “startling” and said agreements had been reached on many issues.
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