Herbert Castro, an access representative in the patient access department of the Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center and the members action team leader at the AFSCME Local 3299 union, said staff shortages due to low wages have significantly impacted the quality of patient care at the hospital.

“We don’t have enough space for the patients that are coming through,” said Castro. “We don’t have the infrastructure for patients in hallways – for us to be working in hallways.”

As a result, there can be as much as a four- to eight-hour wait for patients, Castro added.

(Ruby Galbraith/Daily Bruin)