A planned strike by University of California nurses has been called off after the university system and the union reached a tentative agreement on pay and benefits, the union announced Sunday.
The four-year agreement between UC and the California Nurses Association covers approximately 25,000 registered nurses working at UC’s 19 facilities. The two groups have been negotiating a new contract since June.
The deal follows another agreement announced on Nov. 8 by the UC and University Professional and Technical Employees Union, which represents 21,000 health care, research and technology professionals across the UC system. The groups have been negotiating a new contract for 17 months.
The nurses union had planned to strike Monday and Tuesday in solidarity with a third union, AFSCME 3299, which represents patient care technicians, custodians, food service employees, security guards, secretaries and other staff at UC hospitals and campuses.
Kristan Delmarty, a registered nurse at UCLA Santa Monica and a member of the Nurses Association board and bargaining team, said the union “organized and won important patient protections” in the agreement, which she said nurses will vote to ratify this week.
“Our priority entering this round of negotiations was to ensure that UC nurses had the resources to care for our patients and ourselves after years of staffing and under-resourcing,” she said. “We achieved our goal and now stand with our AFSCME colleagues whose essential jobs require the same resources guaranteed by a fair contract.”
The nurses association says thousands of members still plan to join AFSCME pickets “during non-working hours.”
UC officials also praised the deal. Missy Matella, vice president for systemwide employee and labor relations, said this “reflects the tireless efforts and collaboration of the UC bargaining team, medical center leadership, and leadership across the system working hand-in-hand with our dedicated nurses.”
“We appreciate the nurse and CNA bargaining teams for their collaboration and shared commitment to what matters most: our patients and the UC community,” Matella said. “This strong, forward-looking agreement recognizes the important role nurses play in providing excellence in care and advancing UC’s public service mission.”
AFSCME 3299 is still planning attacks. On Sunday morning, the group posted a video on social media showing members preparing strike signs.
“When we show up together, we win together. This is for our families, our patients, and for the future we deserve!” the organization wrote on X: “Members and allies, bring your energy and see you online!”
