University of California registered nurses picketed Thursday at UC medical centers statewide to draw attention to patient care and workplace safety concerns amid contract negotiations, according to the California Nurses Association/National Nurses United.
The union — which represents 14,000 nurses at the five major UC medical centers, 10 student health centers and the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory — said key contract issues for nurses include staffing and pensions.
"UC RNs are joining together for a statewide day of action to show UC that we are united in our bargaining demands around safe staffing, patient protections and retirement security," Maureen Berry, RN, a nurse at UC Irvine, said in a statement. "We have been in bargaining with UC for over eight months with dozens of takeaways still on the table that affect our ability to best care for our patients and undermine our quality of life. As a public university, UC must respect and protect the patients and the communities we serve."
Pickets were scheduled for UC Davis Medical Center, UC Irvine, UCLA Westwood, UCLA Santa Monica, UC San Diego Thornton, UC San Diego Hillcrest, UC San Francisco Mission Bay and UC San Francisco Parnassus.
A UC San Diego Health spokesperson said approximately 50 picketers participated at the system's La Jolla, Calif., campus. She did not yet have an estimate for the Hillcrest location.
She said in a statement to Becker's: "Patients can rest assured that all clinics and facilities at UC San Diego Health will be open during this labor activity."
She added, "Every UC medical center meets or exceeds California’s legally-mandated nurse-to-patient staffing ratios. The Joint Commission, which certifies healthcare organizations, routinely surveys UC medical centers to ensure compliance with safety and patient care mandates. All five UC medical centers have been designated Magnet hospitals."
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