Page One Archive

December 2009 —

An Open Letter to UC Medical Center Nurses - December 30, 2009

The University, since August 2009, has engaged in limited subject contract negotiations with the California Nurses Association regarding wages, benefits, staffing and contract duration.

Throughout the process, the University has made multiple offers, most of which have been rejected by CNA.

A neutral fact-finder assisted the parties in mediating their differences in September, October and November. In mid-December, the University issued a last, best and final offer that was consistent with most of the fact-finder’s recommendations.  CNA once again rejected the University’s offer.

With the two parties at a stalemate, the University has determined that it is in the best interests of UC and its nurses to move ahead with the implementation of its final offer.

The University holds its nurses in the highest esteem, and believes this implementation reflects the important contributions they make to the medical centers, while also balancing the current fiscal uncertainties facing UC.

Among the highlights:

• Nurses will receive a step increase effective July 2010. This provision ensures that medical center nurses will continue to be paid competitive, market-rate wages.

• UC’s generous benefits package remains largely the same; beginning in April 2010, nurses, along with other non-represented UC employees, will begin redirecting 2 percent of pay from the Defined Contribution plan into the UC Retirement Plan. The result will be no change in net take-home pay, while helping to ensure the long-term viability of UC’s pension fund.  In addition, nurses continue to be eligible to participate in the University’s excellent health plans which are offered to all employees.

• Nurses will continue to have input on local staffing issues, as outlined under Article 8 of the previous contract.

• UC and CNA will continue with a year-to-year contract, allowing fresh discussion of important workplace issues as early as June 2010.

The University’s decision to move forward with a contract allows RNs to begin the New Year with certainty on an agreement that recognizes their importance to UC’s medical centers. The terms of the contract can be found online here.