Dialysis Healthcare Workers Begin Six-Day Strike Across California, Including in San Diego

Hundreds of healthcare workers are holding strikes beginning Monday to call attention to what they say are violations of their labor rights.

The dialysis caregivers, who are represented by the Service Employees International Union-United Healthcare Workers West, say that their employers are violating frontline healthcare workers’ rights by retaliating against caregivers for bringing attention to poor working conditions, as well as engaging in union-busting activities.

The six-day unfair labor practice strikes are scheduled to take place Oct. 14 through Oct. 19 at 37 DaVita, Fresenius, Satellite, and U.S. Renal dialysis clinics throughout the state.

“Frontline healthcare workers shouldn’t have to strike, but when executives are violating labor laws and retaliating against caregivers, we’re left with no choice,” said Alice Isip, a patient care technician at Fresenius Gateway clinic in San Diego, in a release.

“Instead of treating us with respect and listening to our concerns they are illegally trying to bust our union to protect their profits. We want an end to the unfair labor practices and for our employer to respect our rights.”

Workers will be striking all week in at least two San Diego locations: Fresenius Kidney Care Gateway East in the Mt. Hope area, and U.S. Renal in Chula Vista.

“We’re going to be out here for six days, and what we are asking from the company is for an end to unfair labor practices, and for executives to stop violating workers rights,” said Norma Rodriguez, a dialysis technician at the Fresenius Eastlake clinic and a strike team leader.

“Instead of addressing our concerns, management has responded by breaking labor laws.”

Rodriguez said she has been in the industry for 22 years and has weathered a culture of intimidation and harassment.

“I’m out here pretty much by myself today because my coworkers have been harassed and intimidated, so I’m out here working so I’m out here basically by myself, and that’s okay — I’m out here striking for all of us.”

The union says that the two largest dialysis corporations spend significant amounts of money on anti-union efforts — while reporting substantial profits.

For example, the union says that in 2023, DaVita reported $957 million in profits and paid its chief executive officer $6.7 million in compensation. From 2017 to 2020, DaVita spent nearly $7 million on union-busting consultants.

Similarly, at just one Fresenius dialysis clinic in the San Diego region, management reportedly spent more than $650,000 in 2023 to oppose unionization efforts by healthcare workers.

In an emailed statement, Fresenius disputed the claims.

“It should be emphasized that the National Labor Relations Board has never found Fresenius Medical Care in violation of any labor laws, and we will continue to negotiate in good faith to reach agreements that are fair to our employees and enable us to continue our mission of providing high-quality, life-saving care to patients,” the statement said, adding that company’s commitment is to patient care.

“In California, Fresenius Medical Care PCTs and RNs are compensated at, or above market rates, and our hiring and retention far outpace trends in healthcare both in California and nationwide.”

The SEIU-United Healthcare Workers West represents hundreds of dialysis caregivers in various job classes, including registered nurses, patient care technicians, licensed vocational nurses, certified clinical hemodialysis technicians, dietitians, social workers, clinical administrative coordinators, and receptionists. 

Story updated with quotes from Norma Rodriguez on Monday, Oct. 14, 2024 at 11:43 a.m. and with Fresenius statement at 2:27 p.m.