Workers at HCA’s five health care facilities in California voted to authorize a five-day strike as the two sides continue contract negotiations.
The strike, scheduled to begin May 22, will involve approximately 3,000 SEIU-UHW members working at HCA’s Good Samaritan Hospital and 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 have several bargaining days scheduled over the next few weeks to negotiate contracts for union members at these facilities, unions and health systems said. The previous contract has expired.
If the union strikes, HCA is preparing to ensure that patients can still access needed care and medical resources, a spokeswoman said in an emailed statement.
The main issues raised by unions include staff shortages, low wages and worker safety. The hospital system called the union’s decision to vote on the strike “surprising” and said agreement had been reached on many issues.
