California Nurses Association

The UC Board of Regents discussed the details of the final 2015-16 state budget during its Wednesday meeting, including changes to the UC pension plan and potential additional state funding.

The UC Office of the President announced Friday that all UC medical centers have been designated as priority hospitals for Ebola patients, but many nurses feel the UC is inadequately prepared to handle the virus.

A city labor commission is urging Berkeley City Council to adopt a resolution aimed at halting what it calls “attacks” on a local nurse workforce and improving staff levels at Alta Bates Summit Medical Center.

A year of bargaining between the University of California and the union representing their service and patient care workers has amounted to one state fact-finding, two strikes with a potential third looming on the horizon and, most recently, a state audit released Thursday — and still no contracts.

The UC chapter of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees announced plans to call for a strike vote in February, citing remaining concerns over staffing standards and wage increases for some of its workers.

The UC reached a tentative agreement with the California Nurses Association Saturday, securing a four-year labor contract with the group that now awaits union members’ approval.

Medical care workers continue to receive large amounts of overtime pay according to UC payroll data, a figure that workers have pointed to as an indicator that staffing levels at medical centers are below what is necessary to provide adequate patient care.

Registered nurses at the Alta Bates Summit Medical Center in Berkeley went on their sixth strike Thursday along with six other East Bay hospitals in protest of contract negotiations with Sutter Health Corporation.