Rady Children’s Hospital Nurses to Strike Monday and Tuesday After Contract Deal Rejected

Nurses at Rady Children’s Hospital have voted down the latest negotiated contract agreement with the hospital and announced plans to strike on Monday and Tuesday.

“While our bargaining team reached a deal, it is ultimately up to the membership to decide, and they have determined that it falls far too short of their needs,” said Katie Langenstrass, executive director of United Nurses of Children’s Hospital Teamsters Local 1699, in a statement on Sunday night.

“This proposal does not adequately address the high cost of living in San Diego, the most expensive city in the country, nor does it meet the standards necessary to attract and retain the talented nurses our hospital needs,” she said.

She said the nurses don’t want to strike, but rather than collaborate with the union during negotiations, “the hospital has opted to import replacement nurses from other states.”

The hospital countered that union members had rejected a “fair and equitable contract” raising pay by 25% over three years and vowed to maintain care levels despite the strike.

“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 hospital said in a statement.

“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,” the statement added.

The union said nurses will be on strike from 6:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday and Tuesday.