Sharp HealthCare employees vote to authorize 5-day strike [Video]

SAN DIEGO (KGTV)— Frontline healthcare workers with SEIU-United Healthcare Workers West (SEIU-UHW) voted on Friday to authorize a five-day strike to protest at Sharp Healthcare.

According to a press release sent by the union, the strike was approved by a 92% yes vote from around 5,000 healthcare workers with Sharp Grossmont Hospital, Sharp HospiceCare, Chula Vista Medical Center, Memorial Hospital, Mesa Vista Hospital and Mary Birth Hospital for Women and Newborns.

Opening negotiations between the union and Sharp Healthcare started in late 2023 and, after more than 33 negotiating sessions, have yet to reach its first contract agreement.

Healthcare workers, according to the release, said the executives at Sharp do not recognize issues, including low staffing within the facilities and low pay.

“Short staffing and low pay put patients and workers at risk as workers struggle to meet patients’ needs, and many frontline caregivers at Sharp facilities are forced to …