Unionized nurses at Rady Children’s Hospital to go on strike Monday after failed negotiations

SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — Unionized nurses at Rady Children’s Hospital are going on strike Monday for the first time ever after failed contract negotiations.

The tentative agreement between the United Nurses of Children’s Hospital (UNOCH) Local 1699 — the union representing Rady Children’s nurses — and Rady Children’s Hospital administration, was voted down for the second time over the weekend, and the nurses will be going on strike Monday morning, both the union and the hospital announced Sunday.

Around 1,600 union-represented nurses will begin their two-day strike at 6 a.m. Monday, ending at 5:59 a.m. on Wednesday, July 24. They are fighting for better wages and better benefits .

In a statement, UNOCH Local 1699 said the strike will begin Monday morning as planned after the results of the vote came in Sunday:

“The results of the vote are in. The Tentative Agreement was voted down. The strike will begin as planned.

Tomorrow will be a historic day for UNOCH Local 1699. For the first time in our over 20 year history, the RNs at Radys Children’s hospital will be on strike for 2 days. While we know the past two weeks have been difficult and the future is still uncertain, there is one thing we know we have already won and that’s unity. We have banded together like never before. Different units, different shifts, different locations, all working together as one.

Let’s keep up the solidarity on the picket line. For the strike to be successful, we need every member on the line. No matter how you voted on either contract, we need to stick together and come out all day on Monday and Tuesday. Even if there is not an active picket line at your location, you should not report to work.

As discussed in the strike Q&A, UNOCH will be fining members who choose to cross the picket line. Please reach out to unoch@hotmail.com if you know of a co-worker who crosses. We look forward to seeing you on the picket lines! There will be Teamster trucks and special guest speakers! Senator Toni Atkins will be speaking at 8am on Tuesday.”

The union and Rady leadership have met several times since the strike was initially authorized .

Rady Children’s Hospital said in a statement Sunday the union voted to reject a “fair and equitable contract agreed to by both parties” :

“For the second time, UNOCH/Teamsters Local 1699, the union representing Rady Children’s nurses, has voted to reject a fair and equitable contract agreed to by both parties.

The contract would have increased the average nurse’s compensation by approximately 25 percent when compounded over three years and included a base pay market adjustment, updated shift differentials, a refined pay grid and step increases.

Union-represented nurses will begin their strike on Monday morning at 6 a.m. for two days, ending at 5:59 a.m. on Wednesday, July 24. They will be back at work on Wednesday at the end of the two-day strike.

Rady Children’s is committed to continuing to provide high quality care. The Hospital has several hundred dedicated and experienced pediatric nurses from some of the nation’s top children’s hospitals ready to fill in during the strike.”

This story is developing. Stay with FOX 5/KUSI for the latest.

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