Nurses strike at Rady Children’s Hospital begins July 22

SAN DIEGO (KGTV) — After an overwhelming vote to strike earlier this week, the Rady Children’s Hospital nurses union has officially announced a two-day walkout that will begin in late July.

Christian Castro of the United Nurses of Children’s Hospital Teamsters Local 1699 called ABC 10News Thursday morning to share the information. The 48-hour strike is scheduled to begin July 22, according to Castro.

When nurses voted to strike, the hospital told 10News it would continue operations with substitute nurses.

The union represents 1,500 nurses at the hospital and said the decision to strike came after months of negotiations and failed attempts to negotiate a fair collective agreement.

“The reasons for this strike are clear and just: San Diego is the most expensive city in the country and our nurses are struggling to make ends meet,” the union said in a statement. “Our members are paid well below market value, earning up to 28 percent less than their colleagues at comparable hospitals. This inequality is not only unfair, it is also unsustainable.”

Below you will find a document containing the union’s full statement.

ABC 10News is awaiting a statement from Rady Children’s Hospital regarding the strike.

This is a developing story. ABC 10News has assigned a reporter to cover it and gather all the details you need to know.