Bay City News: San Francisco Nurses Vote to Authorize Strike

San Francisco Department of Public Health Nurses Vote to Authorize Strike

In a bold move, registered nurses at the San Francisco Department of Public Health voted last week to authorize their contract negotiations team to call a strike, with an overwhelming 99.5% approval rate. The votes were counted after nurses from SF General Hospital, Laguna Honda Hospital, and various clinics participated in the voting process throughout the week.

The bargaining team is currently in negotiations with the city to address staffing shortages and working conditions. The authorization to call a strike comes as a precautionary measure in case the city fails to address the nurses’ priorities to protect and improve patient care after their contract expires on June 30.

The union alleges that the San Francisco Department of Public Health has been using per-diem temporary part-time nurses to cover the workload equivalent to 291 full-time RNs. Additionally, they claim that there have been 16,000 missed breaks and over 1,400 instances of unsafe working conditions reported through “assignment despite objection” forms.

SEIU 1021 Community Clinic RN Chapter President Jennifer Esteen expressed frustration with the city’s lack of response to their concerns, stating, “They called us ‘health care heroes,’ yet refuse to listen to our advocacy.” She emphasized that the vote to authorize a strike demonstrates the nurses’ commitment to ensuring quality patient care in San Francisco’s public hospitals and clinics.

Representatives from the San Francisco Department of Public Health were not available for comment on the vote or the union’s claims at the time of reporting.

The possibility of a strike looms as a last resort, but the nurses are prepared to take action if necessary to make their voices heard and advocate for the well-being of their patients. Stay tuned for further developments on this story.