Page One Archive
 August 2009 —
 UC-CNA Bargaining Update - August 20, 2009
Ongoing contract negotiations between the University and the California Nurses Association took place Aug. 17 – 19 in Los Angeles. UC made several requests that CNA move forward on substantive discussion of contract language. Despite those requests, only limited discussion took place. Some highlights from those discussions follow. WAGES
· Fairness: The University seeks to protect our nurse’s fair compensation package during a period of serious economic pressure. At a time when many UC employees face furloughs and pay cuts of up to 10% (including Medical Center senior managers), CNA is demanding wage increases of 8%. UC has adopted an Alternate Plan that has saved nurses and other Medical Center employees from furloughs and wage cuts. · Market rates: The University offers competitive wages and benefits, as demonstrated by historically low turnover and vacancy rates for our nursing positions – well below national averages. Applicants for nursing positions outnumber open positions ten-to-one at all of our Medical Centers. · Economic downturn: The University faces significant financial challenges ahead, including pressure from the state budget shortfall; diminishing reimbursement rates for Medi-Cal and Medi-Care patients; declining employer-based health coverage; a growing obligation to our affiliated Schools of Medicine; and the need to begin paying into employee pension funds. STAFFING
· Local Control: The Medical Centers meet or exceed California’s rigorous nurse staffing requirements. The University believes that specific staffing issues are best handled locally, according to individual Medical Center needs. CNA wants an across-the-board increase in nurse staffing levels and more centralized control over Medical Center staffing decisions, which could result in overstaffing at certain medical centers and cancelation of some nurses’ shifts. · The labor-management process: UC and CNA have successfully resolved local staffing issues through the labor-management process prescribed by the current UC-CNA agreement. This process ensures local control and CNA input on staffing issues. More information, including previous bargaining updates, can be found on th at www.ucnurses.com. The University hopes to resume bargaining with CNA on Aug. 26 in San Diego.
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