By Vanguard Staff
Davis, CA – Veterinary technicians at the UC Davis Veterinary Medicine Teaching Hospital (VMTH), ranked the number one veterinary hospital in the nation, rallied Tuesday to demand immediate action in response to what they describe as a critical staffing crisis that endangers animal patients and drives away experienced professionals.
Dozens of technicians, many represented by the union UPTE-CWA 9119, gathered outside the hospital holding signs that read, “Love Animals? Support Workers!” They called on university leadership to implement enforceable staffing ratios, raise wages to match market rates, and adopt stronger retention strategies.
“We love our patients—that’s why we’re here,” said LaShell Alpaugh, a registered veterinary technician in the Small Animal ICU. “But when you have two techs for more than 60 animals, things get missed, mistakes happen, and animals suffer. I’ve gone home crying more times than I can count. I’ve heard coworkers say, ‘we don’t bring our pets here’ —and that breaks my heart. UC Davis used to be the best. But now we’re losing techs to clinics that pay $15 more an hour, and even our benefits are on the chopping block. If we don’t offer the best care, pay, or staffing, what’s left? We just want to live up to our reputation as the #1 veterinary hospital—and we can’t do that without competitive wages, safe staffing, and respect.”
Technicians say VMTH, once viewed as the gold standard in veterinary care, is now struggling to compete with local emergency and specialty clinics offering significantly higher pay, sign-on bonuses, and improved working conditions. As a result, staffing shortages have led to ICU closures, emergency service turn-aways, and preventable patient deaths.
“We’ve reached this point because staffing at VMTH has fallen to crisis levels,” said Michelle Miller, a registered veterinary technician in the Small Animal ICU. “ICU has to close multiple times a week because there aren’t enough techs to handle cases safely. In recovery, one or two techs are often left with just 30 seconds per patient. I’ve seen animals decline or die because we simply couldn’t reach them in time. It’s heartbreaking for those of us who love these patients. It wasn’t always like this. Ten years ago this hospital used to be the best place to work—we’re here calling on UC to help us make it that way again.”
Workers emphasized that the hospital’s national reputation is at stake if the university does not act swiftly. The union warned that if UC Davis fails to resolve the staffing and retention issues, workers are prepared to escalate their efforts, including possible work stoppages.
From article: “We love our patients—that’s why we’re here,” said LaShell Alpaugh, a registered veterinary technician in the Small Animal ICU.”
From article: “I’ve seen animals decline or die because we simply couldn’t reach them in time. It’s heartbreaking for those of us who love these patients.”
But then there’s this, which doesn’t seem to correspond with the statements above: “The union warned that if UC Davis fails to resolve the staffing and retention issues, workers are prepared to escalate their efforts, including possible work stoppages.”
(Seems like that would result in the problem that they claim to be concerned about.)
And then this, which suggests that care is still available elsewhere/nearby: “Technicians say VMTH, once viewed as the gold standard in veterinary care, is now struggling to compete with local emergency and specialty clinics offering significantly higher pay, sign-on bonuses, and improved working conditions.”
(Kind of reminds me of teachers who go on strike, or refused to return to the classroom in regard to COVID shutdowns. They were apparently doing so “for the kids” – the same kids who were largely unaffected by COVID, for example. Now, if those teachers gave their raises “to the kids”, I’d have to agree that they were doing it “for the kids”.) :-)
(In any case, I’d have more respect for strikers if they acknowledged they were primarily doing it for THEMSELVES – nothing “wrong” with that. By the way, those look like an unusually-happy/friendly group of strikers.)
Also, if they (or any other striker) are actually concerned about unfilled positions (due to low salary), they probably need to state how many positions are remaining unfilled (and for how long). (That has the potential to provide credibility, at least.)
But if it turns out to not be a problem, providing raises will result in a given employer having LESS funds to hire more workers. (Not the other-way around.)
What they’re actually arguing for is for additional funds to come from “somewhere else”. Again, nothing inherently “wrong” with that – but start with how many positions are remaining unfilled and for how long (if that’s your claim).
Teachers somehow get-away with claiming a perennial “teacher shortage”, despite the fact that fewer-and-fewer of them are needed across the state as enrollment continues to decline. (At some point, artificial intelligence is poised to provide a bigger role in education, as well. Though it may not provide the “baby-sitting services” that parents are actually/partially seeking from school systems.