SAN FRANCISCO – Workers at the City’s largest veterinary hospital, San Francisco Veterinary Specialists (SFVS), walked-off the job yesterday afternoon to protest federal labor law violations by their employer, VCA-Mars. Thursday’s “Unfair Labor Practices” strike was triggered by a new charge that was filed against the company by the ILWU and by a new complaint issued by the Federal Government, alleging the hospital committed a host of federal labor law violations.
During the strike, workers, community members, and clients rallied in support of Katy Bradley, an outspoken union supporter, bargaining committee member, and advocate for better patient care who was fired by VCA-Mars hours after the employer was notified that charges were being filed against them for violating federal law. Bradley has been an exemplary employee at SFVS for nearly eight years where she worked as a lead veterinary technician.
Workers held a small rally outside of the hospital at 600 Alabama Street in San Francisco’s Mission District following proper COVID safety protocols, while community supporters and clients participated in a car caravan that circled the hospital and listened to the rally over Zoom.
“VCA-Mars can lock me out but they can’t keep me from bargaining for a fair contract,” Bradley said during an emotional speech. “We’ve been trying to reach an agreement for 27 months to improve this hospital as well as the pet-care industry. We want a fair contract that mutually benefits the hospital and the employees that work here. We want to improve the staffing ratios so that we can continue to provide the best patient care possible. Despite how reasonable our asks are, VCA-Mars continues to stall bargaining and deny that they can hear our calls.”
The action drew statements of support from House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, and San Francisco Supervisors Hillary Ronen and Dean Preston.
“Recent developments represent a troubling deterioration of labor negotiations. This week, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) ordered VCA-SFVS to respond to charges of retaliation and termination based on employees’ protected union activity and refusal to bargain in good faith. And last week, ILWU filed an Unfair Labor Practice complaint and 10-J Injunction for the termination of Katy Bradley, a union supporter who rose through the ranks at VCA-SFVS to her role as lead veterinary technician,” Speaker Pelosi wrote in a letter to the employer.
Supervisor Ronen stated in her letter to the company: “When a company knowingly attacks workers or undermines worker support, that company attacks our community. As the community–elected representative of the city’s 9th District I request that you reinstate Katy Bradley, cease all anti-union activity and you return to good faith bargaining. A quick resolution that is mutually beneficial to all parties is what our community grows and thrives on.”
The strike, which lasted less than an hour, is known as an “unfair labor practice” strike, because it responds directly to illegal conduct by the employer, rather than concerns about high-turnover, short-staffing and patient care, problems that have also plagued SFVS.
Photos of the event and a recording of the Zoom rally are available for reporters.
In 2018, employees voted by a 3-to-1 margin to form a union and affiliate with the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU). Since that time, workers have been trying to negotiating their first contract. The company has hired anti-union consultants and lawyers to avoid reaching an agreement.
SFVS is part of a chain of veterinary hospitals operated by VCA, acquired in 2017 for $9.1 billion by the Mars Corporation which now owns 2,000 such facilities.