Contra Costa County Multiunion Agreement Hinges on Nurses’ Approval

Contra Costa County's "all-or-nothing" deal with its unions "hinge[s]" on approval by the county's nurses association, which has twice rejected the county's offer, the Contra Costa Times reports. While the nurses approve of the contract's proposed enhanced retirement plan, they say it "falls short in terms of wages, staffing and patient care issues," according to Francisco Ugarte, a labor representative for the California Nurses Association, which represents 425 registered nurses in Contra Costa County. Ugarte said the nurses will not schedule another vote "unless there's something new we can look at and evaluate." The CNA has chosen to elect a new negotiating team, putting talks off at least until May 21. The county Board of Supervisors this week will discuss "moving forward" on the agreement with the other unions without the nurses, according to Supervisor Mark DeSaulnier (Felsenfeld, Contra Costa Times, 5/12).