ORANGE : Employees Picket UCI Medical Center

Union employees picketed in front of UCI Medical Center on Wednesday, demanding pay increases and complaining of low morale and high turnover.

“I’ve lived here (in Orange County) all my life. Now I need to live with my sister because I can’t afford it,” said Shirley Hafner of Fullerton. “I don’t even make enough money to rent an apartment.” Hafner, a ward clerk who has worked for the hospital for three years, said she makes $9.71 an hour.

Hospital officials refused to comment on the workers’ claims.

“We are unable to discuss the specific issues because the negotiations are under way, said hospital spokeswoman Elaine Beno. “We are encouraged by the progress the talks are making.”

The hospital has offered a 1.7% pay increase this year, union officials say.

“I think the majority of our people are good, loyal employees,” said Les Lyon, a psychiatric technician who has worked at the hospital for 12 years. “The problem is that most of us are not going to be able to stay with the hospital much longer if wages don’t come up.”

Lyon is president of Local 3251 of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, which includes psychiatric, radiology and respiratory technicians as well as other support staff.

Lyon said that in his building, the psychiatric facility, 65 of 110 employees have left in the past 18 months.

“I believe they’re phasing us out,” he said. “Our jobs are being taken by contract or non-career, per diem people with no retirement.”

Peggy Skotnes, a union representative, said the hospital was paying $26 an hour for temporary technicians while paying staff employees doing similar work $7 to $12 an hour. She also complained of a staffing shortage.

“It’s very hard on the employees,” Skotnes said. “The quality of care suffers. They are very stressed out and are working a lot harder than they would have to if staffing were better.”