Roughly 5,000 Sharp Healthcare workers approved a five-day strike Friday after discussions over a labor contract broke down.

The union representing the workers said 92% of voting members approved the strike. In a statement, Service Employees International Union-United Healthcare Workers West argued they were faced with short staffing and low pay.

The vote authorized a future strike, but the union did not say when, or if, it would take place. It also would not represent all workers at Sharp, such as registered nurses who have a different union.

In a statement, Sharp HealthCare said staffing levels were among the highest in the state and said it had offered an average 21% wage increase over a three-year period.

The union and the hospital have been negotiating over a contract since June 2023. Sharp said it would have resources and personnel to handle the needs of patients in the event of a strike.

If a strike were to take place, it would include workers from Sharp Grossmont Hospital, Sharp HospiceCare, Chula Vista Medical Center, Memorial Hospital, Mesa Vista Hospital and Mary Birch Hospital for Women and Newborns.

Some of the jobs affected would be nursing assistants, licensed vocational nurses, respiratory care practitioners, pharmacy technicians, patient transporters, radiologic technologists, surgical technologists, lab technicians and nursing unit clerks.