Medical services were interrupted May 7 as tens of thousands union workers from University of California hospitals and campuses began to strike, reports the Los Angeles Times.
Here are seven things.
1. The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, which represents UC service workers, in April scheduled a statewide strike for May 7 to May 9 over issues such as wages, healthcare premiums and job outsourcing. The University Professional and Technical Employees and California Nurses Association are also slated to strike in sympathy May 8 and May 9.
2. Dwaine Duckett, UC's vice president of human resources, had requested the California Public Employment Relations Board seek a court order on the university's behalf to restrict the number of striking AFSCME-represented employees. The university requested 618 employees not be able to participate in the strike, and the board granted the request for 551 workers, citing the challenges the medical center would face amid a strike due to limited labor supplies, according to The San Diego Union-Tribune. Restricted employees include respiratory therapists and certain imaging technicians.
3. On May 7, more than 20,000 AFSCME Local 3299-represented UC workers, including custodians, gardeners, cooks, truck drivers, lab technicians and nurse aides, participated on the first day of the strike, according to the LA Times.
4. Altercations have reportedly occurred at the protests on UCLA and UC Santa Cruz campuses. According to the LA Times, the altercations involved protesters and nearby drivers. Police said they took one individual into custody May 7 at UCLA after he drove his vehicle into a crowd and hit three staff members, the publication states. The staff members sustained minor injuries but have been treated and released.
5. Although UC's campuses remained open May 7 and were largely operating regularly, there have been some disruptions in medical services, according to the report. For instance, the LA Times reports medical centers, which hired contract workers during the strike, had to reschedule more than 12,000 surgeries, cancer treatments and appointments.
6. John de los Angeles, spokesperson for AFSCME 3299, told The Sacramento Bee via email the union also developed a patient protection task force to respond to life-threatening situations as needed.
7. Approximately 14,000 members of the California Nurses Association, as well as 15,000 members of the University Professional and Technical Employees, who include pharmacists, clinical social workers and other healthcare workers, are expected to begin striking May 8.
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