"We’re Not Just Tired — We’re Breaking": UC Davis Vet Techs Protest Over Staffing Shortages and Patient Safety

On a hot July afternoon in Sacramento, a group of veterinary technicians stood outside the UC Davis Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital, holding signs, speaking into megaphones, and demanding attention. Their message was urgent: staffing shortages are putting animals at risk.

As one of the nation’s premier veterinary institutions, the hospital’s reputation for excellence draws patients from across the West Coast. But according to those on the ground—technicians who spend their days and nights stabilizing critical cases and monitoring post-op recovery—there’s a disconnect between the hospital's prestige and its internal reality.

A Cry for Patient Safety, Not Just Pay

Alpaugh and nearly 20 other veterinary technicians gathered to speak out about what they describe as chronic understaffing, wage disparities, and declining morale. Many belong to the University Professional and Technical Employees, Communication Workers of America Local 9119 (UPTE-CWA 9119), the union representing UC’s professional staff.

Although UC Davis leadership maintains that staffing levels have grown—citing a 31% increase over the past seven years—technicians say the growth hasn’t kept pace with demand or the attrition triggered during the COVID-19 pandemic.

For these workers, the concern isn’t theoretical. It's deeply personal. It’s about the animals that come through the doors every day—some clinging to life, others needing basic comfort. Many of these techs have devoted more than a decade to the profession, but say they are watching colleagues leave for private clinics where wages can be as much as $15 an hour higher.

UC's Response and Union Dispute

However, according to the Sacramento Bee, UC Davis spokesperson Bill Kisliuk wrote in an emailed statement that the veterinary hospital has increased staff by 31% over the last seven years, outpacing the growth of patients coming in.

However, the UPTE union disputes those figures and says meaningful negotiation has stalled. According to a July UC system press release, the union has rejected proposals and declined to schedule additional bargaining sessions since September 2024.

Despite the stalemate, Fletcher says the protest is less about posturing and more about protecting standards of care.

The technicians are calling on the university to prioritize frontline staffing, raise wages to match local clinic rates, and take real steps toward building a veterinary care environment where staff—and animals—can thrive.

Read more at: https://www.sacbee.com/news/politics-government/the-state-worker/article311511782.html#storylink=cpy