Employees of Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital UE Local 1004, are set to hold a one-day “unfair labor practice strike” next week. 

The one-day strike is scheduled for Monday March 20, according to Henry Mayo officials. 

“We are striking to protest the hospital administration’s illegal attempts to intimidate us,” said Stacy Suarez, a surgical tech at Henry Mayo hospital. “We have a legal right to act together to let management know what we need in bargaining, and they are trying to silence our voices.”

The hospital administration has prohibited its employees from wearing union insignia or discussing negotiations, which is a violation of their rights under the National Labor Relations

Act, according to officials. It has threatened reprisals against employees for exercising their rights to concerted activity protected by the Act, and has interfered with the rights of members of the union bargaining committee to participate in negotiations, according to officials. 

The administration has also failed to provide relevant and necessary information in a timely fashion that has been requested by the union for negotiations, as is required under the Act, according to officials.

Local 1004 members are also frustrated with the hospital administration’s refusal to meaningfully address low wages in contract bargaining.

“We have been busting our butts for the community for the last 10 years, but hospital administrators just continue to show us how much we are not valued,” said Emergency Department Monitor Tech Ashley Clemons. “We’re losing so many seasoned, good people because of the pay, and when that happens it’s the patients that we care for that suffer in the long run.”

UE Local 1004 is currently in negotiations with Henry Mayo for a new collective bargaining agreement covering 700 employees, including patient care attendants, techs and other support staff, according to officials. 

“We are disappointed that the UE union has called a one-day strike,” said Patric Moody, spokesperson for Henry Mayo Hospital. “We remain fully committed to bargaining in good faith until we reach a new agreement.  Strikes benefit no one, especially our employees.” 

Although the staff says the strike is due to unfair labor practices, Henry Mayo feels differently about those allegations. 

“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,” Moody said. “Rather, we have followed the law and bargained in good faith at all times.  Sadly, despite our best efforts, since the beginning of our negotiations four months ago a small group of union leaders has seemed intent on attempting to disrupt patient care and holding a strike. This was confirmed when this small group rejected the offer of the largest wage increase in the over 20 years of UE representation, rejected continued negotiations, and called this misguided strike.”

During the strike Monday, Henry Mayo is set to do all they can to keep patient care a priority, according to officials. 

“In light of the impending strike, we want to restate our unwavering commitment to patient care,” Henry Mayo Moody said. “We will take necessary steps to ensure every one of our patients always receives safe, high-quality care, regardless of our labor situation.”

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