Salinas, Calif. – After being terminated amid his outspoken patient care advocacy campaign, Dr. Cris Carrillo will be returning to work at Alisal Health Center following a settlement reached with the County of Monterey.
“I am overjoyed in returning to my community of patients, family, friends, and supporters at Alisal. Our success is thanks to the efforts of each person that contributed to the cause, and our Union in focusing our energy. This achievement is worth celebrating, as it paves the way for a brighter future in advocacy for all of us,” Dr. Carrillo said.
“This settlement marks a historic first for the County. It’s a victory secured through the tireless activism of our unionized doctors at the County clinics and hospitals, union allies, community leaders, and patients,” Tim Jenkins, a senior representative for the Union of American Physicians and Dentists (UAPD), said.
Jenkins further explained that Dr. Carrillo’s reinstatement is one example of how unions defend members’ rights. He hopes this settlement will inspire others to continue fighting for justice and speaking up for what’s right.
Dr. Carrillo is expected to resume his job duties within two weeks.
Background Information
Dr. Carrillo was terminated from Alisal Health Center on Oct. 11, 2024, after which the UAPD filed an unfair labor practice charge of illegal retaliation. This move by County leadership prompted the doctors (represented by the UAPD) employed at the County clinics to authorize a half-day strike for Nov. 12, 2024.
On the morning of Nov. 12, 2024, doctors at the County clinics and hospitals unionized with the UAPD, representatives of Service Employees International Union Local 521, staff from Monterey Bay Central Labor Council, community leaders, and Dr. Carrillo’s patients rallied in front of the Monterey County Health Department. They later attended the Monterey County Board of Supervisors meeting, where Dr. Carrillo’s colleagues and patients addressed the impact of his termination on patient care in the community.
Discussions between the UAPD, legal counsel, and the leadership of the County of Monterey were ongoing for two months before a settlement was reached the evening of Jan. 9, 2025.