UC Davis Vet Staff Demand Better Pay and Staffing

Veterinary Technicians Stage Protest Over Staffing and Patient Care Concerns

A group of twenty veterinary technicians gathered in front of the nation's top veterinary hospital on Tuesday, expressing concerns about the quality of patient care due to chronic understaffing. The demonstration highlighted issues at the UC Davis Veterinary Medicine Teaching Hospital, a facility known for its national reputation. Despite this, animal health technicians represented by the University Professional and Technical Employees Communication Workers of America Local 9119 emphasized that low staffing levels are putting animal care at risk and contributing to widespread burnout among frontline workers.

LaShell Alpaugh, a registered veterinary technician with the small animal intensive care unit, joined the protest and shared her experiences. She explained that in some intermediate wards, there are days when two technicians are responsible for as many as 60 patients. Alpaugh has been working as a veterinary technician for over 12 years, caring for patients in critical condition who require constant attention.

She noted that while the staff is capable of managing such a high number of animals, the extra minutes can make a significant difference. For instance, those few minutes could mean the difference between encouraging a dog to eat or tending to another patient in critical condition. "I can't tell you how many times we've gone home thinking, 'if we were just fully staffed, I could have maybe got that dog to eat' or 'I could have caught this catheter blowing before the leg was swollen,'" she said.

Alpaugh also pointed out a significant loss of technicians and students at the hospital in 2020, which has not been addressed since. However, UC Davis spokesperson Bill Kisliuk stated in an emailed message that the veterinary hospital has increased staff by 31% over the last seven years, which exceeds the growth of patients coming in. He added that the hospital is committed to providing the highest level of care to its patients and their families, emphasizing that staffing levels have never put patients at risk.

While the rally focused on the UC Davis Veterinary Medicine Teaching Hospital, Amy Fletcher, a researcher at UC Davis and statewide treasurer for UPTE, highlighted that the issue extends beyond the hospital. She described it as part of a broader "crisis of recruitment and retention" within the UC system. Technicians also raised concerns about wage disparities, noting that local clinic wages can be up to $15 per hour higher than what the hospital offers. This concern is compounded by the opening of new hospitals in Folsom and Roseville this month, which could intensify competition for skilled staff.

Despite the start of contract negotiations between the UC system and UPTE union in June 2024, Kisliuk mentioned that UPTE has not responded to negotiations since September 2024. In July, UPTE rejected a UC proposal that included a wage increase of up to 20% over a three-year contract. A press release from the UC system stated that UPTE's rejection and refusal to engage in negotiations with economic proposals is a recurring pattern, as they have not provided a response to UC's economic proposal since September 2024.

For Alpaugh, the protest was not primarily about money. What motivates her to come to the hospital each day, along with her three cats, three dogs, kittens, lizards, and fish, is the animals themselves. "We all love animals," she said. "We went into this field because of the animals and we want to be able to provide the number one care we can to each and every patient that walks through our door."