USC Keck, Norris, and Centinela nurses to strike over contract disputes

Nurses in Los Angeles Gear Up for Strikes at Prominent Hospitals

Starting Thursday, February 19, over 2,000 registered nurses in Los Angeles will participate in strikes as announced by the California Nurses Association/National Nurses United (CNA/NNU).

Nurses at USC Keck Hospital and Norris Cancer Center are planning a seven-day strike, while Centinela Hospital Medical Center's nurses will strike for one day. These actions, part of ongoing contract negotiations, included a 10-day notice to hospital administrators to arrange alternative care for patients.

Details of the Planned Strikes

USC Keck and Norris Seven-Day Strike:

When: Thursday, Feb. 19, 7 a.m. to Thursday, Feb. 26, 6:59 a.m. A rally is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. on Feb. 19.

Where: USC Keck, 1500 San Pablo St., and USC Norris Cancer Center, 1441 Eastlake Ave., Los Angeles, Calif.

Centinela One-Day Strike:

When: Thursday, Feb. 19, 7 a.m. to Friday, Feb. 20, 6:59 a.m. A rally is planned for 1 p.m.

Where: Centinela Hospital Medical Center, 555 E. Hardy St., Los Angeles, Calif.

Nurses at USC Keck and Norris Push Back Against Health Care Plan Changes

The strikes at USC are driven by proposed changes to health care plans, compelling nurses to use USC facilities, which they argue could overwhelm existing systems, increasing wait times for all patients. Since January 2026, nurses have faced higher out-of-pocket expenses and limited provider access, replacing a previous no-premium option.

Nurses claim the removal of the no-premium plan is being used as a negotiation tactic, detracting from core issues like patient safety and nurse retention. Valerie Hernandez, an RN at USC Keck, stated, “Instead of improving access to care, USC has made the no-premium health plan worse and is using it at leverage in negotiations. Nurses shouldn’t have to bargain for basic health care while providing it to others.”

The impending strike follows a strong strike authorization vote in January and protracted negotiations since May 2025. Key demands include:

• Affordable and comprehensive health care coverage
• Enhanced staffing to ensure patient safety
• Better retention strategies to maintain care consistency

Additional actions have included informational pickets and a one-day strike in October, highlighting resource shortfalls and missed breaks, which have yet to be adequately addressed by USC management.

The California Nurses Association represents 1,800 nurses at both USC facilities.

Centinela Nurses Demand Improved Staffing from Prime Healthcare

Nurses at Centinela Hospital are striking over chronic understaffing and unsafe conditions affecting patient care quality. Elexa Elkins, an RN at Centinela, emphasized, “At Centinela Hospital, nurses are striking because patient safety is being put at risk every day... We are standing up because our community deserves better.”

Negotiations for Centinela's nurses have been ongoing since July 2025, with minimal progress. The strike, following a near-unanimous authorization vote on January 14, is part of a broader series of strikes at Prime Healthcare facilities, including Saint Mary’s Regional Medical Center in Reno, Nev.; Shasta Regional Medical Center in Redding, Calif.; and West Anaheim Regional Medical Center in Anaheim, Calif.

The California Nurses Association represents 800 RNs at Centinela.

California Nurses Association/National Nurses United is the nation’s largest and fastest-growing union and professional association for registered nurses, with over 100,000 members in California and more than 225,000 nationwide.

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