San Joaquin County Nurses Plan Strike Over Bargaining Undermining

San Joaquin County Nurses to Hold Strike Over Contract Disputes

Registered nurses in San Joaquin County's health system are set to engage in a one-day strike on Friday, Jan. 17, due to ongoing issues with the county management regarding the bargaining process. This action, announced by the California Nurses Association/National Nurses United (CNA/NNU), comes after the expiration of the nurses' contract on April 30, 2024.

The decision to strike follows a nearly unanimous vote for strike authorization in December, with nurses providing advance notice to their employer. The CNA, which represents over 1,000 nurses within the county, including those at San Joaquin General Hospital (SJGH) in French Camp, California, has been at the forefront of this movement.

Event Details:

Who: Registered nurses at San Joaquin County

What: One-day ULP strike for a fair contract

When: Friday, Jan. 17, 7 a.m. to Saturday, Jan. 18, 6:59 a.m.

Where: San Joaquin General Hospital, 400 W. Hospital Rd., French Camp, CA 95231

Negotiations that began in March 2024 have been marked by the county's actions that the union claims undermine the bargaining process, leading to prolonged discussions. The county has been accused of making unilateral changes that have affected nurse recruitment and retention, ultimately impacting patient safety. The Public Employment Relations Board has lodged a complaint against the county for these unilateral actions.

"We care about our patients and our community," stated Kelly Mertz, RN, from the trauma unit at SJGH. "We must be able to retain nurses to provide care. The county’s divisive and unfair actions damage the county’s ability to recruit and especially retain experienced nurses. We are striking to secure an equitable contract that will ensure the county can hold on to and recruit nurses to care for our community."

Stacey Lo, RN, from the labor and delivery/post-partum unit at SJGH, added, "The county is not respecting our rights as nurses and as union members. Their tactics have delayed a fair and equitable resolution to our contract. This is why we are striking. We are fighting for a strong contract, so we can recruit and retain nurses and give our patients the best care."

In November 2024, nurses voiced their concerns during a San Joaquin County Board of Supervisors meeting, demanding a fair resolution to the ULP charge and the ongoing contract issues. On November 19, they organized an informational picket focusing on patient safety and equal treatment.

The California Nurses Association represents over 1,000 nurses employed by San Joaquin County.

The California Nurses Association/National Nurses United is the largest and fastest-growing union and professional association of registered nurses in the nation, with more than 100,000 members in over 200 facilities throughout California and nearly 225,000 RNs nationwide.