UCLA per diems prevail over management’s costly wage mistakes

When UCLA took over the West Valley Medical Center (formerly West Hills Hospital) last year, they made a lot of promises. One of them was that per diem workers would not lose their current pay rate or seniority in the transition.

However, when some per diem workers received their first UCLA paycheck, they were shocked to discover their pay had plummeted. This was not what was promised. 

Turns out, UCLA had made a mistake, and in true UC fashion, they elected to simply do nothing about it. No matter their (documented!) promises to per diem employees or the impact the drastically lower pay rate would have on recruitment and retention. As far as management was concerned, per diem workers just had to deal with it.

But UPTE members decided that they, in fact, did not have to deal with it. They led the charge in forcing UC to correct their error and pay them what they were owed. As a result, per diem workers will receive the pay they were promised, as well as backpay dated to when UCLA took over their hospital in March 2024—which, for some workers, totals to thousands of dollars.

"When UCLA failed to keep their promises, UPTE forced UCLA to make it right. I have faith in our union. I've seen firsthand how we can fight back and win."

Maria Austria
per diem Case Manager at UCLA

That’s the UPTE difference—the power we wield together to fight for and win what we deserve.