Unionized nurses and health care workers at Sharp HealthCare are preparing to strike from Nov. 26–29 after contract talks broke down. The action includes more than 5,700 registered nurses and over 120 additional health care staff represented by the Sharp Professional Nurses Network (SPNN), an affiliate of UNAC/UHCP.
Negotiations have been underway since July, and the union’s current contract expired Sept. 30. Members authorized the strike with a 97% vote, citing concerns about staffing, pay, and Sharp’s sick leave policies. Under the current system, full-time nurses must work roughly 10 weeks to accrue enough sick time to cover one shift — a structure union leaders say forces staff to choose between showing up ill or facing penalties.
“I’ve dedicated sixteen years to caring for patients in the ER, and the decision to walk out is one I make with a heavy heart,” said ER nurse Yesenia Diaz. “We give everything to this hospital and community, but we don’t always have the support we need to do our jobs safely.”
SPNN President Andrea Muir echoed those concerns, saying the policy leaves nurses “stretched too thin” and discourages them from taking time to recover. Union leaders argue this compromises both staff and patient safety.
Sharp management says it has offered proposals addressing several of the union’s demands, including higher pay, improved sick leave provisions, and more substantial retirement benefits. In a statement, the health system said it remains disappointed the union issued a strike notice despite what it described as a “generous economic proposal.”
Pay remains one of the top sticking points. The union says Sharp nurses are paid below-market rates, even as San Diego remains one of the most expensive cities in the country. Some nurses say they can no longer afford to live where they work.
“Our team deserves fair pay, stable staffing, and real job security — the basics that allow us to focus on patient care instead of worrying about how to make ends meet,” said RN Jonathan Argento.
Sharp leaders say they hope for a resolution before Nov. 26 but are preparing contingency staffing plans, including bringing in traveling nurses, to ensure patient care continues uninterrupted.
Union officials maintain that the strike is about more than wages and benefits. They say the goal is to protect patient safety and ensure caregivers have the support they need to provide adequate care.
“Our patients deserve caregivers who are healthy, supported, and able to give them their full attention,” Muir said. “We’re fighting for safe staffing, basic respect, and a system that protects both nurses and the San Diego community.”