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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday, Dec. 9, 2005
Noel Van Nyhuis (510) 287-3356
noel.vannyhuis@ucop.edu
 

UC REACHES TENTATIVE AGREEMENT WITH NURSES ON TWO-YEAR CONTRACT
 
The University of California announced today (Dec. 9) that it has reached a tentative agreement with the California Nurses Association, the union representing UC nurses, on a two-year contract.
 
Under the agreement, UC will give all UC nurses 4 percent salary increases on Jan. 1, 2006, in addition to the market increases that UC gave to nurses in September while still at the bargaining table with the union.
 
In addition to UC's proposals on wage increases, CNA also agreed to accept the changes to UC's 2006 health insurance plans as well as not to conduct any strikes against UC in sympathy with other unions for the life of the contract.
 
We are very happy to have reached this agreement with our nurses, as it will ensure UC will be able to continue to provide the quality care that exemplifies all UC medical centers, said Howard Pripas, UC executive director of labor relations. This agreement will help UC to attract and retain the quality nurses that are in such high demand in California.
 
Other key issues regarding nurse staffing and patient lifting were also resolved. Under the agreement, each UC medical center will settle conflicts over perceived staffing ratio issues with internal review committees, with the possibility of final resolution through a neutral third party. In addition, each UC medical center will implement a lift policy that would provide patient transfer and lifting devices, or lift teams to assist with patient lifting.
 
UC and CNA also agreed to reopen negotiations in spring 2006, to bargain over health benefits, retiree health benefits as they affect current nurses, meal and break periods, and wages for the second year of the contract.
 
The tentative agreement was made following formal impasse proceedings Nov. 16-18, in which a neutral fact-finder encouraged the CNA to work in good faith to reach an agreement.
 
For more information about the University of California's negotiations with CNA:

http://atyourservice.ucop.edu/employees/policies/labor_relations/index.html

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