A five-day strike has been authorized by more than 1,500 healthcare workers connected to USC.
The strike, that could take place next month, involves staff at Keck Hospital, the USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, and several clinics and call centers.
The nursing assistants, respiratory therapists, housekeepers and technicians say USC mistreated them during the pandemic, making it hard to take sick leave, and refusing to offer hazard pay or mental health support.
Los Angeles Daily News reports that after a week of voting, more than two-thirds of the workers cast ballots and 96% of the ballots cast supported the action.
“USC has mistreated its caregivers during the pandemic,” Patricia Barahona, a patient care technician at Keck Hospital of USC to LA Daily News. “We’ve put our lives on the line for our patients. Meanwhile, the university has cut our retirement benefits, made it harder for us to take sick leave and refused to offer hazard pay to maintain staffing even during the worst days of the COVID-19 surge.”
No strike date has been set, and negotiations are scheduled to resume Thursday, May 27.
Union negotiations are scheduled to resume today. Keck Medicine says its disappointed by the vote to strike.