Judge: Some workers not allowed to strike against UCLA, UC Irvine medical centers (PDF)

A Sacramento Superior court judge has issued an injunction that limits  how many health workers can take to the picket lines this week at the five University of California medical centers. Read the full ruling below.

Superior Court Judge David Brown agreed with the state Public Employee Relations Board that an “imminent threat to public health or safety” would exist if certain workers were able to walk off the job.

The ruling bars about 450 workers from joining the strike, including respiratory therapists, pharmacists, clinical lab scientists and radiologists who provide essential patient care at UCLA, UC Irvine, UC Davis, UC San Diego and UC San Francisco.

Those workers expected to participate in the walkout include: vocational nurses; technicians responsible for operating equipment such as ultrasounds, X-ray, MRI and CT scans; pharmacy technicians who deliver medication to patients and some respiratory therapists, among others. 

The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, which represents about 13,000 workers, called the strike, in part, to protest  increased worker contributions to pension plans, scheduled to start July 1.

On Monday, UC officials said that the increase in worker contributions applies across the board to all UC workers – executives included – and that it’s necessary to shore-up the pension system which is under funded by $24 billion.

The union is also calling for increased wages and staffing.

As many as 12,000 workers are expected to strike from 4 a.m. Tuesday to 4 a.m. Thursday. UC officials say emergency rooms will be open during the walk out, which they estimate will cost the UC System $20 million. 

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