The National Union of Healthcare Workers, which represents more than 1,300 workers at UCSF Children’s Hospital Oakland (Calif.) and its satellite clinics, is condemning the University of California’s planned integration of the hospital into San Francisco-based UCSF Health.
On March 28, the union announced that workers will hold a rally April 1 to protest the plan.
Union members argue the move would reduce take-home pay, leave patients with fewer caregivers and make them members of UCSF unions, whose contracts include more expensive health and retirement benefits.
“UCSF has billions of dollars; it shouldn’t be taking money out of our pockets and the communities we serve,” Rosie Brooks, a telecommunications operator at the hospital, said in a union news release.
UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospitals first affiliated with UCSF in 2014, and the integration plan was announced in January. It calls for the transition of Benioff Oakland staff to University of California employment, effective July 1. UCSF leaders say the change will allow employees to participate in UC benefit plans and access broader resources available to UCSF Health employees.
UCSF Health also said the integration will support a $1.6 billion investment to modernize the Oakland campus, which includes a new hospital building expected to open in 2031.
“This transition ensures that we can continue delivering the highest-quality care in Oakland by fully integrating employees into UCSF’s operational, clinical, and financial systems — improving efficiency, securing long-term sustainability, and expanding access for children and families who rely on us,” UCSF Health said in a statement shared with Becker’s on March 31.
“As part of this transition, our employees will receive the full wages, benefits and protections of UC employment, and they will continue to have union representation. Our focus remains on the patients we’re privileged to serve and supporting the excellent staff who care for them.”
The union said it is pursuing legal action to stop the plan and is considering a strike if the health system moves forward.
The National Union of Healthcare Workers, which represents more than 1,300 workers at UCSF Children’s Hospital Oakland (Calif.) and satellite clinics, is condemning the University of California’s planned integration of the hospital into San Francisco-based UCSF Health.
On March 28, the union announced that workers will hold a rally April 1 to protest the integration.
Union members say the move would reduce take-home pay for workers, leave patients with fewer caregivers, and require workers to join UCSF unions, whose contracts come with more expensive health and retirement benefits.
“UCSF has billions of dollars; it shouldn’t be taking money out of our pockets and the communities we serve,” Rosie Brooks, a telecommunications operator at the hospital, said in an NUHW news release.
UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospitals first affiliated with UCSF in 2014, and UCSF announced the integration plan in January.
The plan calls for the transition of Benioff Oakland staff to University of California employment, effective July 1, a move UCSF argues will allow Oakland employees to participate in the university’s benefits plans and take advantage of resources available to UCSF Health employees.
UCSF Health also argues that the move will maximize the effects of the health system’s $1.6 billion investment to modernize the Oakland campus, which includes a new hospital building expected to open in 2031.
“This transition ensures that we can continue delivering the highest-quality care in Oakland by fully integrating employees into UCSF’s operational, clinical, and financial systems — improving efficiency, securing long-term sustainability, and expanding access for children and families who rely on us,” UCSF Health said in a statement shared with Becker’s on March 31.
“As part of this transition, our employees will receive the full wages, benefits and protections of UC employment, and they will continue to have union representation. Our focus remains on the patients we’re privileged to serve and supporting the excellent staff who care for them.”
NUHW said the union is pursuing legal action to stop the integration plan and considering a strike if the health system moves forward with the plan.
