Judge Rules To Maintain Ban on CNA Strike at UC Hospitals
Sacramento Superior Court Judge Loren McMaster on Friday extended his prohibition against a planned nursing strike at University of California teaching hospitals, the Sacramento Bee reports (Kasler, Sacramento Bee, 9/3).
McMaster in July issued a temporary restraining order to stop a planned California Nurses Association strike at five UC teaching hospitals (California Healthline, 8/15).
According to the Bee, McMaster's decision on Friday to issue a preliminary injunction barring the strike "effectively bars a strike until negotiations are complete" and "creates a more permanent ban" than the previous restraining order.
UC has said that the strike would be illegal because the bargaining process is not complete. CNA has said that the strike should be allowed because UC has declined to negotiate about staffing ratios.
UC made a staffing proposal last week, but CNA said it was inadequate. Both sides on Thursday said negotiations had reached a standstill after three days of negotiations. As a result, UC and CNA will try to address their differences through mediation.
In addition, UC has begun implementation of the first year's worth of wage increases that are part of its contract proposal (Sacramento Bee, 9/3).