For the third time, nurses at Rady Children’s Hospital have voted against a negotiated collective bargaining agreement with the San Diego facility, union officials announced Tuesday.
“While this agreement made some improvements, it did not adequately address the critical issues of wages and high health insurance premiums that burden the majority of our 1,600 nurses,” said Katie Langenstrass, executive director of United Nurses of Children’s Hospital Teamsters Local 1699.
“After tonight’s vote, we will reconvene with our members and board in the coming days to work out the next steps to achieve the strong agreement we deserve,” she added.
The hospital management expressed its disappointment and promised to continue negotiations with the union.
“Rady Children’s is disappointed to learn tonight that nurses have voted against ratifying a tentative agreement for the third time,” Rady officials said in a statement.
“This tentative agreement was the best way forward for the nurses and the hospital. It would have ensured our valued nurses a substantial salary and benefits to support their families.”
Negotiations have been ongoing since May. The nurses’ last collective agreement expired on June 30, and they went on a two-day strike at the end of July.
City News Service contributed to this article.
