UC registered nurses approve contract, guaranteeing pay increase of at least 18.5%

Registered nurses working at 19 UC facilities approved a new contract after voting closed Saturday.

The contract will cover approximately 25,000 registered nurses and includes protections to improve patient safety and nurse retention through Jan. 31, 2029, according to the California Nurses Association.

The agreement includes at least an 18.5% pay increase, a cap on health care increases, limits on the movement of registered nurses between UC institutions, improved meal and rest breaks and workplace violence prevention policies, the association said.

“UC RN organized at the bargaining table and won important patient protections, such as curbing rampant abuse of floaters and ensuring safeguards for AI,” said Kristan Delmarty, RN and a member of UC’s bargaining team.

“Thanks to the commitment of all CAN members, we won a contract that will improve nurse and patient outcomes,” said Marlene Tucay, a registered nurse at UC Irvine and a member of the negotiating team.

Under the contract, registered nurses will play a central role in selecting, designing and validating new technologies, including artificial intelligence systems, CNA said.