Strike and University Nurses

mdfog10 · Jul 19, 2005

Yes, 9,000 Nurses in the University of California hospitals and clinics will go on strike July 21st. It is a one day unfair labor practice strike. During 6 months of bargaining they have failed to bargain over staffing issues and failed to provide information on other issues.

A major concern is changes to our pension and benefits while still offering below market wages. Staffing ratios, lift teams and protecting RN judgement when introducing new technology are our other issues.

pickledpepperRN · Jul 20, 2005

http://www.calnurse.org/?Action=Content&id=1002

9,000 University of Calif. RNs Set to Strike Thursday

Nurses Also Plan Speak-out to UC Regents Wednesday

July 19, 2005

Registered nurses are moving forward with plans to hold their first-ever strike Thursday, a one day walkout, at the University of California medical centers across California to protest the University's plans to make major cuts in retirement security, its refusal to negotiate over safe staffing, and other important issues.

On Wednesday, UC RNs will bring their concerns directly to the University's Board of Regents meeting in San Francisco. The nurses will also protest the policies of Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger who is a member of the Regents. The University's hard line stance on several key issues is linked to the high profile attack by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger on nurses in recent months.

Tuesday, July 19

Court hearing on latest bid by Schwarzenegger to roll back RN ratio law

Superior Court, 720 9th St., Department 16, Sacramento, 10 a.m.

Wednesday, July 20

Protest and Speak-out

UC Board of Regents meeting, 3333 California St., San Francisco

9 a.m. picket, 10 a.m. speak-out at Regents meeting

Thursday, July 21

Strike, picketing begins, 7 a.m. Rallies, 12 noon, 5 p.m.

Medical Centers-UCLA, UCSF, UC Davis, UC San Diego, UC Irvine

Picketing also planned at several other UC medical sites

The walkout will affect some 9,000 University of California RNs Nurse Practitioners, and Nurse Anesthetists.

Following the governor's attack on those who perform public service, especially nurses, teachers and firefighters in favor of corporate privatization, the UC is attempting to undermine the retirement security of its registered nurses. UC officials have informed CNA that they intend to make substantial changes in the system's pension program.

CNA is proposing language to guarantee there will be no changes in the nurses' pension, retiree health, or other benefits for the life of the contract, as all other large health systems have done in contracts with CNA.

UC officials want to continue to be able to make cuts in retirement and benefits any time, and in addition to its pension changes has also indicated plans to reduce retiree health benefits and make employees pay far more for health benefits.

Safe staffing is another key flashpoint. CNA has introduced a comprehensive UC staffing proposal, emulating the state's RN-to-patient ratio law, which would be enforced through the contract. UC management has refused to bargain on the issue.

Schwarzenegger is continuing efforts to roll back the law, and earlier this month re-adopted an emergency regulation that had been declared illegal by a Sacramento Superior Court judge in June. CNA will ask the judge to enjoin the latest emergency regulation in a hearing this morning.

Another issue related to Schwarzenegger's attack on nurses is the CNA proposal that the UC establish a safe lift policy in all of its hospitals.

Schwarzenegger last year vetoed a CNA-sponsored bill, after heavy lobbying by the UC, requiring all California hospitals to employ safe lift policies, such as providing lifting equipment and training to employees to avoid debilitating back and other musculoskeletal injuries. A similar CNA-backed bill, SB 363, is advancing in the legislature this year with the ongoing opposition of Schwarzenegger and the administration. RNs and other nursing staff lead the nation in work-related back injuries.

The nurses and UC administration also remain divided on wages because UC compensation is far below salaries at other hospitals, on a CNA proposal to safeguard patients and RN practice when new technologies are introduced, and on a UC demand which would force nurses to work when sick, endangering patients, or lose vacation time.

"Experienced nurses will leave the UC system if they cannot trust UC to provide working conditions, pensions, healthcare, and safe staffing for patients," said UC Davis RN Suzanne DePalma. "Leaving inexperienced nurses and doctors in UC hospitals without the needed support of expert RNs, would be unsafe for the patients, who are desperately ill, vulnerable, and trusting nurses and doctors to take good care of them."

"UC's refusal to bargain about safe staffing ratios and acuity protections in the contract shows that they are only interested in their financial position. Patient safety should come first before any financial gains," said Manny Punzalan, a UCLA RN.

"Nurses are sending a strong message that UC should address the nursing shortage by including in the CNA contract nurse-to-patient safe staffing ratios, competitive wages, health insurance and pension protections because in health or sickness, patients deserve the best qualified experienced RNs around," said UC Irvine RN Tam Nguyen, one of four UCI RN leaders who was suspended by the University in retaliation after the strike vote was announced, an illegal act, says CNA, that further inflamed tensions between the University and the nurses.

"Throughout bargaining and inside the UC hospitals and clinics, nurses are feeling unheard," said UCSF nurse negotiator Maureen Dugan, RN. "Failure to listen to what nurses need to care for their patients and families will lead to a revolving door of inadequate care at world famous UC medical centers."

barefootlady, ADN, RN · Jul 20, 2005

First, I want to thank the California nurses for holding to certain standards and pushing for safe working conditions. I hope the ratios will be recognized nationwide as the standard for good nursing care one day soon.

Secondly, while I am thousands of miles away, I support these nurses in their strike, I know they have been under attack by the "Arnold" for attempting to get a reasonable retirement plan.

Good luck to one and all.

pickledpepperRN · Jul 20, 2005

First, I want to thank the California nurses for holding to certain standards and pushing for safe working conditions. I hope the ratios will be recognized nationwide as the standard for good nursing care one day soon.
Secondly, while I am thousands of miles away, I support these nurses in their strike, I know they have been under attack by the "Arnold" for attempting to get a reasonable retirement plan.
Good luck to one and all.

Thank you barefootlady!

I will be going over to support the UCLA nurses for a couple Hours. You are right. I think this is about Arnolds attack on pensions and safe staffing.

Wonder who he thinks will work long hours, lift heavy patients, forego meals, work nights, weekends, and holidays, and go home crying because it was impossible to give safe care.

Then after 40 or more years with aching back retire in poverty. If he gets his way with the UC all nurses will be targeted.

Ha ha, I'm singing to myself:

"West Virginia

Barefoot Lady

Take me home

Country Roads"