CNA Members Ratify Two-Year UC Contract
The California Nurses Association on Sunday said University of California nurses voted to ratify a two-year contract that includes provisions on salary increases and nurse-staffing ratios, the Oakland Tribune reports (Vesely, Oakland Tribune, 12/19). CNA represents about 9,000 nurses for the university system.
Under the contract, all nurses will receive a 4% salary increase effective Jan. 1. Second-year increases will be discussed in the next round of contract negotiations (Osterman, Sacramento Bee, 12/20).
In addition, nurses will become more involved in finding solutions to problems involving such issues as nurse staffing ratios and patient lifting.
According to UC, nurses "also agreed to accept changes to their health insurance premiums and not to conduct any strikes against the university in sympathy with other unions for the life of the contract."
Negotiations will be re-opened in 2006 for changes to health benefits, retiree health benefits, meal and break periods and wages (Oakland Tribune, 12/19).