• ACVCACVC
  • DVM 360
  • Fetch DVM 360Fetch DVM 360
dvm360 | Veterinary News, Veterinarian Insights, Medicine, Pet Care
dvm360 | Veterinary News, Veterinarian Insights, Medicine, Pet Care
By Role
AssociatesOwnersPractice ManagerStudentsTechnicians
Subscriptions
dvm360 Newsletterdvm360 Magazine
News
All News
Association
Breaking News
Education
Equine
FDA
Law & Ethics
Market Trends
Medical
Politics
Products
Recalls
Regulatory
Media
Expert Interviews
The Vet Blast Podcast
Medical World News
Pet Connections
The Dilemma Live
Vet Perspective
Weekly Newscast
dvm360 LIVE!™
Insights
Publications
All Publications
dvm360
Firstline
Supplements
Vetted
Clinical
All Clinical
Anesthesia
Animal Welfare
Behavior
Cardiology
CBD in Pets
Dentistry
Dermatology
Diabetes
Emergency & Critical Care
Endocrinology
Equine Medicine
Exotic Animal Medicine
Feline Medicine
Gastroenterology
Imaging
Infectious Diseases
Integrative Medicine
Nutrition
Oncology
Ophthalmology
Orthopedics
Pain Management
Parasitology
Surgery
Toxicology
Urology & Nephrology
Virtual Care
Business
All Business
Business & Personal Finance
Client Handouts
Hospital Design
Personnel Management
Practice Finances
Practice Operations
Wellbeing & Lifestyle
Continuing Education
Conferences
Conference Listing
Conference Proceedings
Upcoming dvm360 Conferences
Resources
CBD in Pets
CE Requirements by State
Contests
Partners
Spotlight Series
Team Meeting in a Box
Toolkit
Vet to Vet
  • Contact Us
  • Fetch DVM360 Conference
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy
  • Do Not Sell My Information
  • About Us

© 2022 MJH Life Sciences and dvm360 | Veterinary News, Veterinarian Insights, Medicine, Pet Care. All rights reserved.

By Role
  • Associates
  • Owners
  • Practice Manager
  • Students
  • Technicians
Subscriptions
  • dvm360 Newsletter
  • dvm360 Magazine
  • Contact Us
  • Fetch DVM360 Conference
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy
  • Do Not Sell My Information
  • About Us
  • MJHLS Brand Logo

© 2022 MJH Life Sciences™ and dvm360 | Veterinary News, Veterinarian Insights, Medicine, Pet Care. All rights reserved.

San Francisco veterinary staff protest unfair labor practices

September 18, 2019
Erica Tricarico, Managing Editor

Protesters (not including veterinarians) at VCA San Francisco Veterinary Specialists say theyre fighting for better pay, health benefits and improved work conditions.

Protesting working conditions they say are “deplorable,” some 30 veterinary team members-including veterinary technicians, assistants, coordinators and facilities staff-at a San Francisco veterinary hospital walked off the job during an hour-long protest earlier this month, according to local media reports. This was the second walkout to occur at VCA San Francisco Veterinary Specialists in three months.

Among protesters' top complaints were insufficient equipment, poor healthcare benefits and low pay. "Everybody here lives paycheck to paycheck," veterinary assistant Katie Bradley told ABC7 News.

“Our health benefits here are deplorable, and you know we get injured a lot on this job,” Bradley said in the interview. “A patient is struggling or jumps off a table, and we have to catch them.” She added that some injury cases have been so severe that employees were unable to return to work.

According to KQED News, in August, the National Labor Relations Board issued a complaint against VCA San Francisco Veterinary Specialists, stating that the hospital had violated labor laws by not engaging in good-faith bargaining. The agency also called for a federal court hearing at the end of September.

In 2017, Mars Inc. purchased VCA, which owns San Francisco Veterinary Specialists and another estimated 750 animal hospitals nationwide. Since then, hospital staff voted to unionize and join the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU).

Now some hospital staffers say Mars is stalling employee contract negotiations. City official Hillary Ronen said a delay is illegal.

"We've got to fight against this corporation that is eroding care not just here but all across the country," Ronen told KQED. “They are doing every sneaky tactic to stall the negotiation of the first contract. It's disgusting, it's illegal, and it needs to stop.”

Not only have contract negotiations been dragged out for over a year, employees also say hospital management is assigning union work to non-union staff. “A lot of us really love what we do and they're drowning us out,” said Bradley.

Mars, which also owns the Banfield and BluePearl veterinary practice groups, responded to critics with the following written statement to ABC7: “VCA has been in contract negotiations for over a year with the International Longshore and Warehouse Union, which represents certain staff at VCA San Francisco Veterinary Specialists (SFVS). We remain committed to reaching a contract that treats employees fairly and enables the hospital to provide the highest levels of specialty patient care and emergency services for patients and clients in San Francisco.”

Related Content:

RegulatoryPersonnel ManagementBreaking NewsPolitics
Veterinary hospital office manager sentenced for stealing opioids from clinic
Veterinary hospital office manager sentenced for stealing opioids from clinic
ASPCA supports ban of horse slaughter in legislative hearing
ASPCA supports ban of horse slaughter in legislative hearing
Pride Veterinary Medical Community issues statement on anti-LGBTQ+ legislation
Pride Veterinary Medical Community issues statement on anti-LGBTQ+ legislation

Latest News

July CE: Unlock your veterinary learning potential

Projections and direction in parasite protection

3 Must-sees from DIVM

New companion animal therapy program for rehabilitation education and training

View More Latest News