3-Day ULP Strike to Launch June 1 and Impact the LAC+USC Medical Center in Boyle Heights; Olive View-UCLA Medical Center in Sylmar; Martin Luther King, Jr. Outpatient Center in Willowbrook; Rancho Los Amigos National Rehabilitation Center in Downey; Harbor-UCLA Medical Center in West Carson; and High Desert Regional Health Center in Lancaster
Nurses, nurse practitioners and other public healthcare professionals who have comprised the frontline of Los Angeles County’s COVID pandemic response will join Union leaders for a press conference at the LAC+USC Medical Center to announce on Thurs., May 26 at 10 a.m. that a three-day Unfair Labor Practice (ULP) Strike will proceed throughout the L.A. County’s healthcare network effective June 1 at 6 a.m.
The strike arrives on the heels of six months of contract negotiations between the County and SEIU 721 represented Registered Nurses (RNs) and Supervising Registered Nurses (RNs) marred by the County’s bad faith bargaining. SEIU 721 officially informed the County on May 22 of RNs and Supervising RNs intent to exercise their legal right to a ULP strike.
Together, the two RN bargaining units comprise approximately 7,000 frontline employees across the Department of Health Services (DHS), the Department of Public Health (DPH) and the Department of Mental Health (DMH).
The ULP Strike will last for three days starting on Wed., June 1 at 6 AM. It is expected to affect all public hospitals and medical centers operated by the County – including the LAC+USC Medical Center in Boyle Heights; the Olive View-UCLA Medical Center in Sylmar; the Martin Luther King, Jr. Outpatient Center in Willowbrook; the Rancho Los Amigos National Rehabilitation Center in Downey; the Harbor-UCLA Medical Center in West Carson; and the High Desert Regional Health Center in Lancaster.
“LA County continues to bargain in bad faith with our Nurses and we have had enough,” said SEIU 721 President David Green. “Our Nurses and healthcare workers are essential – not expendable. They’ve been working non-stop since this pandemic began, making tremendous sacrifices and demonstrating true heroism. Since January, our Nurses have come to the bargaining table prepared to negotiate seriously on issues that address quality of care for patients, and the retention of Nurses within the County’s system.
“The County has simply not demonstrated the urgency to work with our Nurses with the respect that they deserve after putting their lives on the line through multiple COVID surges. We’re taking a stand and moving forward with a three-day ULP strike starting bright and early on June 1.”
