As many members of AFSCME go on strike Wednesday at University of California medical centers, a court order issued Tuesday barred workers who perform "essential functions in patient health and safety" from participating in the strike.
The injunction, issued by a Sacramento County Superior Court judge, only applies to 49 employees, according to a CBS SF Bay Area report. AFSCME Local 3299 represents about 13,000 UC patient care workers and 8,300 service employees at the university system.
UC has ensured that all medical facilities will stay open during the strike, but many elective surgeries scheduled for Nov. 20 were rescheduled after the strike date was announced.
The union and UC officials have not been able to negotiate a labor contract. The union is concerned about unsafe staffing levels in UC medical centers, but university officials say the union is trying to put off pension changes that other unions at UC already agreed to.
Wednesday's strike is the second strike for AFSCME members at UC: Unionized employees also went on strike May 21 to 22.
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