UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA: Proposed UC Davis Nurses Strike Throws Wrench in Contract Talks
As the saga between the California Nurses Association and the University of California's health system rolls on, UC Davis nurses last Thursday threatened a one-day strike, stepping up contract negotiations, Scripps-McClatchy Western Service/Knoxville News-Sentinel reports. As the two parties entered negotiations last Thursday, the university proposed a 2% pay hike for UC Davis nurses, an increase the nurse's union called "far too modest" in comparison to the 15% they are asking for. After the 2% offer, UC Davis nurses announced that they would decide this Wednesday whether to authorize a one-day strike. Following the decree, university officials upped their offer to a 5% increase for nurses receiving "satisfactory" evaluations and a 9% raise for nurses rated "outstanding." While the university's chief negotiator Jim Ohnesorge said that "there was no direct relationship" between the nurses' announcement and the new salary proposal, he did admit that the strike threat created "a more stressful bargaining process." Dawn Love, a member of CNA's bargaining team, said that the union still is "not pleased" with the offer and called the evaluation process "too subjective." Other issues, such as UC Davis' sick leave policy, also remain unresolved. Both sides are expected to return to the bargaining table today and Wednesday (Fisher, 5/19).
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