Page One Archive

December 2008 —

UC-CNA Bargaining Update - December 10, 2008

What are the details of the University’s comprehensive offer to CNA?

How would they benefit you?

Although the University has continued its good-faith bargaining efforts with CNA, the union has not responded to UC’s latest offer and instead is scheduling strike votes.  UC has offered CNA an excellent proposal that would benefit all nurses, but they are asking you to ratify the union’s rejection of the University offer and vote for a strike.  It is critical that all nurses know the facts about bargaining and UC’s efforts to reach agreement before you vote.  More information about the UC proposal is available at www.ucnurses.com. 

The University’s latest offer included:

WAGES: UC’s latest offer would provide market-competitive wage increases as reflected in the University’s salary survey results and supported by CNA’s own information presented during fact-finding. 

STAFFING:  UC believes that because most staffing concerns vary location to location, the most effective means of addressing staffing matters is through collaboration between nurses (through the PPC) and nursing management.  This process is already available in the UC-CNA contract and has been effectively used at UCLA. 

o    In addition to the PPC process, UC proposed to create a special task force comprised of RNs, nurse representatives, and management to address the issue of floating between work units.  This proposal would also create a time frame to resolve matters and calls for a decision by the CNO in writing.  The University is confident that this process will address the unique needs of each location and is disappointed that CNA has not embraced it.

o    UC understands that break relief is a local issue and the dynamics change not only by location by also by unit within a location.  Consistent with the fact-finder’s recommendation, UC is committed to working with the PPC and CNA to address break relief as a local matter during 2009.  Because the contract already provides for this solution, the University did not offer new language.

·      RETIREMENT BENEFITS:  The University is not proposing to change current contract language, which guarantees that the University and CNA will negotiate about the restart of contributions to the UC Retirement Plan before any nurse’s contributions are required.  No changes to UCRP contributions are proposed at this time.

MEDICAL BENEFITS:  CNA’s proposal reflects the UC proposed rates for 2009.  As a part of this agreement, in 2009, the University would contribute an even higher percentage toward health insurance costs due to a special one-time subsidy as recently announced.

The University’s latest offer is market-competitive and consistent with the Fact-Finder’s recommendations.  We urge all nurses to learn the facts before voting.  More information, including the fact-finder’s complete report from October 2008 and an up-to-date, detailed chart comparing the fact-finder’s recommendations with the University proposals and CNA’s positions can be found here.