Page One Archive
 April 2007 — Page One, Issue 1
 Bargaining for a New Nurses’ Contract Begins
UC has begun bargaining with the CNA on a new comprehensive employment contract for UC nurses and the first bargaining session was held in April. The next session is scheduled for May 7-9 at UC Davis.
Many important issues will be discussed throughout these negotiations and, in addition to maintaining competitive compensation and benefits and good working conditions, we want to be sure that nurses receive accurate and timely information about what’s going on at the bargaining table.
We will be providing nurses with informational updates immediately following each bargaining session, and we encourage you to visit this site frequently and to also ask questions of your supervisor or local human resources office.
In this first session, the University and CNA discussed many items – highlights of the proposals that were exchanged are as follows:
Retirement Benefits
UC Proposal: Unlike employees at other institutions, UC employees have not contributed to the UC Retirement Plan (UCRP) for the last 16 years. To ensure the plan’s long-term health, however, contributions from both the University and its employees are now needed. UC proposes that contributions from nurses are the same as all other UC employees. To help protect employees’ salaries, including nurses’, the current plan calls for simply redirecting funds employees are currently paying into defined contribution plans.
Contributions to the UCRP would start at 2% of pay with an equal match from UC (subject to sufficient funding and other collective bargaining agreements). Additional detail on the UCRP can be found at http://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/news/ucrpfuture/welcome.html
CNA Position: No contributions from UC nurses to the plan.
For more information on the UC Retirement Plan click here.
Health Benefits
UC Proposal: Nurses pay no more, and no less, for health insurance coverage than all other UC employees.
UC and CNA will address changes to the health benefit plans in negotiations the week of May 7th.
CNA Position: No changes to UC health plans, and no cost increases for nurses. No changes to retiree health.
Compensation
UC Proposal: Nurses are critical to maintaining the excellent patient care that UC is known for, and the University recognizes that competitive compensation is key to attracting and retaining quality nursing staff. UC will again propose salary increases as part of these negotiations to ensure that our nurses’ compensation remains competitive with the market. We are currently analyzing market information and will present our wage proposal at future bargaining sessions.
CNA Position: CNA has proposed specific increases. 10% in 2007 and 10% in 2008.
Paid Time Off
UC Proposal: The University has proposed that all vacation and one-half of sick leave time be combined for all new UC nurses and offered as an option to all existing RNs. Combining vacation and sick days in this way offers our clinical professionals more flexibility and we see it as an appropriate improvement for our nurses.
CNA Position: CNA has previously opposed this type of plan.
For more information on PTO click here.
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