In the Fight Against Avian Flu, UPTE-CWA Diagnosticians Blow the Whistle on Dire Laboratory Conditions

Diagnosticians at the California Animal Health and Food Safety Laboratory System (CAHFS), represented by UPTE-CWA Local 9119, held an informational picket earlier this week to blow the whistle on dire laboratory conditions interfering with the critical work of testing and monitoring for avian flu (H5N1 or HPAI), primarily in dairy and poultry populations. The CAHFS is a part of the University of California, Davis, and plays an essential role in safeguarding the health and safety of food and livestock in California and across the nation.

High turnover caused by inadequate compensation, poor morale, and toxic working conditions has been left unaddressed by the University of California, leading to short-staffing in the laboratory during a predictably busy peak season for the spread of avian flu. The current staffing crisis leaves the broader public and the agricultural industry susceptible to the economic and health impacts of an outbreak.

“Human error can occur when we are stretched thin and overworked. The combination of high workload, short deadlines, and inconsistency of communication creates a high potential for mistakes, which could be catastrophic for consumers and producers alike,” said Victoria Ontiveros, a staff Research Associate currently working at CAHFS.

“We are tackling the most pressing scientific challenges of our time. While we have been bargaining with the University of California for a contract that recognizes our critical and life-saving work. We have been disappointed with their lack of urgency and illegal, unfair labor practices. To prevent another outbreak on par with or worse than the COVID-19 pandemic, we must test and contain the spread of the virus. That starts with investing in the committed workers on the frontlines of safeguarding our communities from H5N1,” said Amy Fletcher, a staff Research Associate working at the Department of Food Science and Technology, who also serves as the UPTE-CWA UC Davis Co-Chair and union-wide UPTE-CWA Treasurer.

 
Members of UPTE-CWA Local 9119 marched and rallied, calling on the University of California-Davis to fully resource frontline medical workers in the fight against avian flu.

---

This post originally appeared on cwa-union.org.