May 2010
It is often all too easy to take the rights and protections we have as union nurses and health care professionals for granted. For many of us, all we have known is the security that our union contracts provide us, protecting us when we speak out for our patients, their families, and our professions.
For a moment, imagine that you don’t have the benefit of that safety. Imagine being confronted by your hospital medical chief of staff, who questions your loyalty to the hospital’s mission and attacks your personal integrity. Imagine being called into a private meeting to have this hostile and demoralizing conversation. Just to add insult to injury, imagine being accused of bullying your colleagues and being labeled the opposite of the “nicer, quieter” nurses, simply because you wish to join a union.
Hard to imagine, right? Well, it recently happened almost daily to a number of nurses at Chino Valley Medical Center who, in spite of suffering these indignities, endured in their commitment to organize with us. This courageous group of nurses had the fortitude to publicly challenge hospital management to do better by them and their patients, and to respect their right and freedom of choice to vote “union yes.” Their resolve paid off on April 2 when they overwhelmingly voted to join UNAC/UHCP.
What an extraordinary group of nurses.
We should never forget how challenging it is for unorganized nurses and other health care professionals to stand up to their employers, to stand up for their rights and the rights of their patients.
There are bad hospital employers out there. Prime Healthcare Services, the owner of Chino Valley Medical Center, is one such employer. In fact, they could easily be the poster child for anti-union sentiment within the Southern California hospital community. Prime Healthcare Services seems intent on forcing all of us down a low road — to marginal staffing levels, low wages and minimal benefits. On principle alone, we cannot allow that happen.
We are committed to securing a first union contract with the Chino Valley nurses. We are committed to building upon and renewing our contract with Garden Grove, another Prime hospital, later this year. And we are committed to working with nurses at other Prime hospitals in their struggle to gain the union rights and protections we enjoy.
In solidarity,
Other Messages From the President
| President’s Message | Mar 2012 |
| President’s Message | Jan 2012 |
| President’s Message | Dec 2011 |
| President’s Message – Sept/Oct’11 Voice | Oct 2011 |
| President’s Message – July/August’11 Voice | Jul 2011 |
| President’s Message – May/June’11 Voice | Jun 2011 |
| President’s Message – March/April’11 Voice | Apr 2011 |
| President’s Message – Jan/Feb’11 Voice | Feb 2011 |
| President’s Message – Nov/Dec’10 Voice | Dec 2010 |
| Kathy J. Sackman Announces Retirement | Oct 2010 |
| President’s Message – Sept/Oct’10 Voice | Sep 2010 |
| President’s Message – Jul/Aug’10 Voice | Jul 2010 |
| President’s Message – Mar/Apr’10 Voice | Mar 2010 |
| President’s Message – Jan/Feb’10 Voice | Jan 2010 |
| President’s Message – Nov/Dec’09 Voice | Nov 2009 |
| Testimony at the Senate Business, Professions and Economic Development Committee Meeting – August 17, 2009 | Aug 2009 |
| Make a Difference Video – 2009 | Aug 2009 |
WE WON! Tentative Agreement Reached With Kaiser!
At 2:45AM Friday, May 11, UNAC/UHCP and the Coalition of Unions reached a tentative agreement with Kaiser covering 95,000 Kaiser employees across the country. Details to come.
After a Hard Fought Battle, Beverly Nurses Win Their First Contract
Beverly RNs voted by 96% to approve a first contract on May 2, 2012 after a year long battle to secure wage increases, grievance and arbitration, and a voice in patient care.
Safe Staffing Legislation Passes First Test
“SB 1246 will help Registered Nurses provide safe patient care without worrying about hospitals cutting corners and jeopardizing the health of a patient,” said Barbara Blake, RN, State Secretary/Treasurer of UNAC/UHCP.