A strike is looming involving workers at Marian Regional Medical Center in Santa Maria and French Hospital in San Luis Obispo. The three day strike would begin next Tuesday at 11:00 pm and comes after representatives with the Service Employees International Union-United Health Care Workers said was a lack of progress with Dignity Health, which owns the hospitals, over a new contract after their previous one expired on April 30th. Diane Woods, a Chief Steward for the Union tells KCOY CBS 12 and the Information Station that Dignity Health has proposed several cuts.
Officials with Dignity Health say that over the past four years, employees represented by the Union received an average salary increase of 7% each year, and that they are trying to control costs. The last bargaining session for the two sides before next week's scheduled strike is set for this Thursday in Emeryville. If the strike takes place, it would not affect Arroyo Grande Community Hospital, which is also owned by Dignity Health.