Over 50 employees with Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital and UE Local 1004, went on a one day strike Monday due to unfair labor practices. 

On Monday morning, employee’s stood outside Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital waving signs and asking for a new contract during a one-day strike. 

“We are striking today because the hospital has refused to come to negotiate and bargain with us, we are striking because they continue to try to silence us and the hospital is intimidating us and asking us to not wear our union insignia,” said Stacey Suarez, a surgical tech who was protesting. 

“We categorically deny violating the rights of or ‘silencing’ any union members,” said Patrick Moody. “All Henry Mayo employees are required to adhere to a certain dress code.  The code applies to all employees, not just union members.  The code places limits on items that can be worn in patient care areas.”

Employees are also frustrated with the hospital administration’s refusal to address low wages in contract bargaining, according to officials. 

Officials with UE Local 1004 are currently in negotiations with Henry Mayo for a new collective bargaining agreement covering over 700 employees, including patient care attendants, tech and other support staff, added officials. 

“We hope to bring them back to the negotiating tables to negotiate a fair contract with us,” said Suarez.

“We did not walk away from the bargaining table. The union did.  At this time the union has not requested any additional bargaining dates. We remain fully  committed to bargaining in good faith until we reach a new agreement,” said Patrick Moody, spokesperson for Henry Mayo Newhall hospital.

Despite Henry Mayo staff going on strike, hospital administration do not feel they have committed any unfair labor practices. 

“While the union has characterized this as an Unfair labor practice strike,’ the reality is that Henry Mayo has not in any way committed any unfair labor practices and this strike has nothing to do with any alleged treatment of our employees,” Patrick Moody, spokesperson for Henry Mayo Newhall hospital said in a previous KHTS article.

The union also asserted that the administration has failed to provide important information in a timely manner that has been requested by the Union for negotiations. Moody stated that this assertion by the union is strongly disputed by the hospital. 

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