Nurses threaten to strike on May 29
By Daily Bruin Staff
May 15, 2002 9:00 p.m.
By Sabrina Singhapattanapong
Daily Bruin Contributor
[email protected]
Three months of bargaining with the university ended Wednesday
with the California Nurses Association calling for a one-day strike
““ the first ever in CNA’s 18-year history with the
UC.
The 8,000 nurses at the five UC medical centers say they will
strike on May 29 unless the university offers a better
contract.
“Unfortunately, we reached this point because of the
proposal they offered us,” said UCLA nurse negotiator Maxine
Terk.
UC officials could not immediately be reached for comment.
Nurses are seeking a seniority-based wage system, higher wages,
no mandatory overtime and better nurse-to-patient ratios ““
demands which were not met, Terk said.
According to Terk, the university offered nurses a 5 percent
wage increase across the board, 1 percent merit increase for nurses
that “exceed expectations” and a 2 percent increase for
per diem nurses ““ temporary nurses working odd shifts.
The university wanted to implement higher nurse-to-patient
ratios by “diluting” the ratios with non-registered
nurses instead, she added.
“We are open to coming back to talk to (university
officials) if they have something reasonable to present to
us,” Terk said.
Both parties are to meet May 22.
