Sharp HealthCare workers vote to approve strike

SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) -- Nearly 5,000 Sharp HealthCare workers voted overwhelmingly in favor of a five-day strike against Sharp Healthcare on Friday.

With 92% voting "yes," employees at Sharp Grossmont Hospital, Sharp HospiceCare, Chula Vista Medical Center, Memorial Hospital, Mesa Vista Hospital, and Mary Birch Hospital for Women and Newborns agreed to protest what they believe are "unfair labor practices."

The workers, represented by SEIU-United Healthcare Workers West union (SEIU-UHW), are responding to what they characterize as Sharp executives' refusal to engage in good faith negotiations aimed at resolving what they deem a severe staffing and patient care crisis.

“It’s heartbreaking to see what we have to fight with,” said Cheryl Okuboye, a licensed vocational nurse at Sharp Mesa Vista Hospital. “I have worked at Sharp for more than 24 years and given my heart and soul to caring for our patients. To see management break the law and refuse to bargain in good faith with me and my coworkers when all we want is to care for our patients and families is unacceptable -- and it hurts. We are a family at Sharp and we are united. We won’t stop fighting for our rights, patients, and one high standard of care and working conditions.”

Many workers report being overwhelmed by the demands of their jobs. Tony Napoli, a respiratory therapist at Sharp Grossmont Hospital, pointed to the strain of his daily 97-mile commute, which adds significant hours and expenses to his workweek. “It’s pushing us to the brink,” he stated, highlighting the challenges of balancing low pay and high living costs in San Diego.

Friday’s strike authorization vote follows similar calls from workers back in August. During that time, the employees demanded better pay and more staffing.

Despite Sharp Healthcare’s status as a non-profit organization — reporting over $654 million in profits since the pandemic began — the workers contend that their compensation does not reflect the organization’s financial success.

FOX 5/KUSI reached out to Sharp HealthCare regarding the workers’ allegations and the potential strike. The following statement was provided Saturday:

It’s critical for San Diegans to know that staffing levels at Sharp hospitals are among the highest in the state. There is no patient care crisis at Sharp. SEIU-UHW is making these and other false claims in an attempt to put pressure on Sharp at the bargaining table to meet their unrealistic wage demands that are simply not economically feasible for a not-for-profit hospital system. Sharp has offered the union an enviable 21% wage increase, on average, over a three-year contract. We have also offered a zero-premium health plan for union members and their families, while also agreeing to work over the next year to enhance our retirement program.

Sharp has also offered additional dates for negotiation sessions to arrive at a final agreement, but the union has rejected those in favor of these kinds of delay tactics. Since June 2023, we have been bargaining in good faith with the union for contracts with the Sharp Grossmont Hospital and Sharp HospiceCare bargaining units, and a strike is not in the best interest of our team members, our patients and our communities. Sharp stands ready with resources and personnel to meet the health care needs of our patients in the event of a strike. We are also ready and willing to finalize an agreement that respects and values our employees and enables Sharp to maintain its mission to meet the full health care needs of San Diegans. -- Sharp HealthCare spokesperson

The strike authorization impacts a wide range of job classes, including certified nursing assistants, pharmacy technicians and surgical technologists, among others. The looming strike, if it proceeds, could have significant implications for patient care and hospital operations in the San Diego region.