Berkeley adds urgent consent item backing Children's Hospital Oakland workers amid UCSF integration dispute

The Berkeley City Council on June 24 voted to add an urgent consent item calling for protection of healthcare workers' rights and to delay proposed integration actions by UCSF Health at Children's Hospital Oakland while legal questions remain.

The motion to add the item was moved by Councilmember Trego and seconded by Councilmember Bartlett; the council approved adding the urgent item to the consent calendar by roll call. The item directs the city to send a letter and to consider a resolution urging delay of proposed integration steps until outstanding legal and labor issues are resolved.

Speakers during public comment included Children's Hospital staff and union representatives who described recent contract changes imposed after the merger discussions and what they called an abrupt reassignment into UCSF Health terms without negotiation. Jenny Kirsch, who identified herself as a healthcare interpreter at Children's Hospital, said workers were "emailed and told this is your new contract" and that the changes would remove benefits and pension elements. Ruth Crow, a neonatal intensive care social worker who has worked at Children's Hospital for more than two decades, said the proposed integration threatens services for East Bay families: "We are not merged with them. They do not own us and yet we feel their control day by day," she said, and urged council support for arbitration and a legal process.

Union and community representatives urged use of local funding sources and political pressure to preserve services and protect staff. Several speakers asked the council to use Measure C/M funds or other county monies to sustain pediatric services and to press UCSF Health to negotiate. Councilmembers expressed support for the workers and added the item to the consent calendar for formal consideration.

What happens next: the added consent item will move forward with the rest of the consent calendar items for council consideration; if adopted as written, staff will implement any directed correspondence and the council may take further related actions in subsequent meetings.