UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital Oakland employees call off strike

(KRON) – The employees of UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital Oakland said they would end their strike on Monday morning. The group’s scheduled picket line for Sunday was canceled. 

According to the union, a federal judge denied their request for an injunction that would have stopped UCSF Health from proceeding to cancel union contracts. The cancellation would constitute Oakland Hospital employees as direct UCSF employees.

The union says that UCSF Health has an “integration plan” set to commence on July 6.  

The union says it is filing a motion seeking to compel arbitration over whether the integration violates its contracts with the hospital, and the hearing is scheduled for July 17. The group is also seeking injunctive relief through the National Labor Relations Board.

“Our strike is over, but our fight is still going on,” said Willie Williams, an orthopedic technician at the hospital. “We’re proud that we have taken this stand for each other and for the care that we provide East Bay kids. We know that what UCSF is proposing will push out long-tenured caregivers, and we’re still determined to reverse it.” 

The National Union of Healthcare Workers is representing this group of 1,300 Children’s Hospital Oakland workers.