UC Nurses Rally for Better Staffing, Patient Care, and Contract Terms

UC Nurses Rally for Enhanced Patient Care Conditions and Accountability

On Tuesday, June 10, registered nurses at University of California (UC) medical centers are set to rally across the state to mark the beginning of their contract negotiations. The California Nurses Association/National Nurses United (CNA/NNU) announced that the primary focus for these nurses, who are spread across various statewide medical centers, is to address and reverse the ongoing trend of understaffing, resource reduction, and increased workload with insufficient support.

"Nurses across the UC medical centers are united for a strong contract that holds the UC system accountable to its public mission," stated Kristan Delmarty, an RN at UCLA Santa Monica Medical Center and a CNA board member. "Rather than behaving like a typical for-profit corporation, UC medical centers can invest in the public good and retain its world-class status by prioritizing safe staffing and workplace safety. We urge UC leaders to listen to the experiences of those of us who do the work of caring for patients and building its reputation."

The rallies, featuring 25,000 RNs from UC medical centers, aim to highlight key priorities for upcoming negotiations. Detailed information about the events, including locations and times, can be found here.

These nurses, part of the state-operated UC system, are integral to some of the most renowned teaching and research hospitals nationwide. They advocate tirelessly for public health, especially in regions like Sacramento and San Diego, where UC medical centers operate as public hospitals accepting all patients, regardless of insurance coverage.

Recently, the UC medical system has been expanding rapidly, with nine new facilities joining its existing network of 10 medical centers. More facilities are slated to open in the near future. This growth has led to a 40 percent increase in the number of UC nurses represented by the California Nurses Association, rising from 18,000 to 25,000 over the past 18 months. The UC system, with its influence, has the opportunity to set high standards in medical care, contrasting with the downward trends seen in for-profit hospital chains.

UC nurses have voiced concerns over issues such as "shadow beds" and prolonged emergency room wait times, which they attribute to management's preference for more lucrative elective surgeries.

The California Nurses Association represents 25,000 registered nurses across more than a dozen campuses, with contracts expiring on October 31, 2025.

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