Dialysis workers picket over working conditions, patient care 

EL CAJON, Calif. (FOX5/KUSI) -- Registered nurses, technicians and other dialysis caregivers picketed at Fresenius Kidney Care clinics on Wednesday. 

These caregivers, represented by SEIU-United Healthcare Workers West, took part in a statewide picket to bring attention to their current working conditions as well as conditions for patients. Rallies were held at over 31 clinics across California. 

In San Diego County, workers picketed at seven different clinics, the largest being in El Cajon. 

Maria Saucedo, a patient care technician at Fresenius Kidney Care, said that workers picketed to “send a message to our company.” 

“We want to settle our conditions, improve our working conditions and improve our patient care,” Saucedo said. 

Saucedo has been working in patient care for 18 years and believes conditions have grown worse, as workers are always on a “time crisis.” She believes this is in part because clinics have been understaffed. 

Fresenius Medical Care responded to the pickets in a statement made on Wednesday. 

“We respect our employees’ right to participate in the informational picket,” Fresenius Medical Care stated. “They are doing so on their own time, and we do not anticipate any impact on patients’ ability to receive care.”    

Contract negotiations begin next week between the unionized caregivers and their companies. Saucedo said they do not want to go on strike because their patients depend on them. 

“The reason we are in this fight is for them, for us to be able to give them better quality care,” Saucedo said.