The University of California obtained a court order Tuesday blocking the planned one-day strike by registered nurses at university medical centers. The nurses withdrew their strike notice, but are pursuing the matter in court.
“Our No. 1 priority remains correcting the chronic staffing issues at University of California medical centers, which we have been unable to resolve through any other means,” said Beth Kean, chief negotiator for the California Nurses Association’s UC Division. “All the resources the university has wasted trying to silence the nurses will do nothing to solve the staffing crisis at UC hospitals and nurses will not rest until their concerns are addressed.”
A San Francisco Superior Court judge issued the temporary restraining order Tuesday, acting on a request from the University of California as well as the state Public Employment Relations Board, which oversees collective bargaining for public employees. The union will return to court June 18 for a full hearing on whether or not nurses have a right to strike for better staffing in this circumstance.
“We have withdrawn our strike notice for June 10 in accord with the court’s order, and we are not striking on June 10,” said Kean. “We look forward to the court hearing next Friday where we are confident the judge will rule that UC nurses do have the right to strike over UC’s rejection of the fact-finder’s recommendation which includes the unresolved staffing issues at the UC medical centers.”
RNs called the strike as a last resort following the refusal of UC hospital officials to improve staffing conditions at its high-profile hospitals, despite months of contract talks, a fact-finding process and multiple efforts by nurses in the facilities, the union said.
“We have to speak out for the safety of our patients, and the university continues to deny that there is any problem,” said Maureen Dugan, RN, a medical-surgical nurse at UC San Francisco.
Rallies are planned at University of California medical centers in several cities, including Los Angeles, San Diego and San Francisco and at two private hospitals in southern California.
For more information
Visit the California Nurses Association website
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The University of California obtained a court order Tuesday blocking the planned one-day strike by registered nurses at university medical centers. The nurses withdrew their strike notice, but are pursuing the matter in court.
“Our No. 1 priority remains correcting the chronic staffing issues at University of California medical centers, which we have been unable to resolve through any other means,” said Beth Kean, chief negotiator for the California Nurses Association’s UC Division. “All the resources the university has wasted trying to silence the nurses will do nothing to solve the staffing crisis at UC hospitals and nurses will not rest until their concerns are addressed.”
A San Francisco Superior Court judge issued the temporary restraining order Tuesday, acting on a request from the University of California as well as the state Public Employment Relations Board, which oversees collective bargaining for public employees. The union will return to court June 18 for a full hearing on whether or not nurses have a right to strike for better staffing in this circumstance.
“We have withdrawn our strike notice for June 10 in accord with the court’s order, and we are not striking on June 10,” said Kean. “We look forward to the court hearing next Friday where we are confident the judge will rule that UC nurses do have the right to strike over UC’s rejection of the fact-finder’s recommendation which includes the unresolved staffing issues at the UC medical centers.”
RNs called the strike as a last resort following the refusal of UC hospital officials to improve staffing conditions at its high-profile hospitals, despite months of contract talks, a fact-finding process and multiple efforts by nurses in the facilities, the union said.
“We have to speak out for the safety of our patients, and the university continues to deny that there is any problem,” said Maureen Dugan, RN, a medical-surgical nurse at UC San Francisco.
Rallies are planned at University of California medical centers in several cities, including Los Angeles, San Diego and San Francisco and at two private hospitals in southern California.
For more information
Visit the California Nurses Association website