NUHW Nursing Home Workers Secure Strong Contract Wins with Strike Threat

NUHW Members Secure Significant Contract Wins at Bay Area Nursing Homes

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March proved to be a pivotal month for members of the National Union of Healthcare Workers (NUHW) at two nursing facilities in the Bay Area, as they leveraged the possibility of a strike to achieve favorable contract agreements.

San Francisco Post Acute

At San Francisco Post Acute, 46 union members were on the brink of a two-day strike when they successfully negotiated a new contract. This agreement includes an immediate salary increase of 10 percent, with total wage hikes ranging from 20 to 24 percent over the duration of the three-year contract.

Employees such as nursing assistants, restorative nursing assistants, cooks, dietary aides, and housekeepers also achieved a structured wage scale across all job classifications. Additionally, they secured retroactive pay starting from November 2025, marking the end of their previous contract.

Luz David, a nursing assistant with 23 years at the facility, expressed satisfaction with the outcome, stating, “Everyone is very happy. We were asking for better wages because our wages were not enough.”

The workers also achieved several other benefits:

• Maintained extra pay for the PM shift against management's efforts to remove it
• Increased sick leave to a maximum of 80 hours
• Added an additional floating holiday
• Secured three days of paid bereavement leave for full-time staff
• Implemented protections against subcontracting

The looming strike played a crucial role in the negotiations, especially after workers displayed strike signs during a Zoom meeting, which the employer's attorney disparaged. David noted this only strengthened their determination, saying, “They thought we’d be intimidated or afraid to strike. They realized that the harder they pushed, the harder we would push back.”

Novato Healthcare Center

Employees at Novato Healthcare Center were similarly prepared to strike to oppose Brius, the facility's owner, from imposing a rotating schedule that would have forced many weekday workers to start working weekends.

Faced with unfair extra shift assignments from management, the workers organized a petition and voted in favor of striking. Consequently, management indefinitely postponed the scheduling change and engaged in negotiations to integrate terms for extra shifts into the existing contract.

The agreement ensures that favoritism is avoided, granting NUHW members priority for additional days, double shifts, and overtime, thus promoting equal earning opportunities based on seniority. This protects workers' schedules and prevents disruptions to their childcare and other employment.

Registered Nursing Assistant Jesus “David” Munoz commented, “We just want to be treated fairly and be able to make sure that our patients get the best possible care. This agreement accomplishes that, and it’s a testament to our resolve and our willingness to fight for our rights.”