The United Nurses Associations of California/Union of Health Care Professionals (UNAC/UHCP) is pleased to announce that Beth Capell has joined the Sacramento lobbying team of the Southern California-based nurses’ union.
UNAC/UHCP has been certified as the representative body for the Chino Valley RNs and the hospital must now sit down at the negotiating table.
Nurses File for a Union Election to Join UNAC/UHCP In Order to Protect Patients
Montebello – Registered Nurses at Beverly Hospital filed for an official union election with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) this morning, as they seek to rectify long standing patient safety issues at the facility by joining the United Nurses Associations of California/Union of Health Care Professionals (UNAC/UHCP). The next step for the NLRB is to set an election date, allowing more than 270 nurses in the bargaining unit to vote to join UNAC/UHCP, which currently represents more than 18,000 nurses across Southern California.
“We are organizing because we want our patients to be safe,” stated Mike Medrano, RN in the Emergency Room at Beverly Hospital. “We are pressured to keep the ER open, even when we are short of staff and overwhelmed with patients. Management rarely staffs the ER according to state ratios, even when… Read more
Brown is sworn in as California’s 39th Governor
The largest nurses union in Southern California congratulates the new Attorney General, Kamala Harris, who will have several responsibilities related to improving the quality of patient care throughout the state.
Los Angeles – The United Nurses Associations of California/Union of Health Care Professionals (UNAC/UHCP) congratulates Kamala Harris, California’s newest Attorney General, on her electoral victory. UNAC/UHCP’s Political Action Committee endorsed Harris earlier this year; however, the election results were not finalized until November 30th.
“We supported Kamala Harris in her race for Attorney General because she is a representative who is committed to expanded access to quality, affordable health care for California’s working families,” stated Jimmy Gomez, political director for UNAC/UHCP. “The Attorney General can deeply impact how care is provided in California and ensures patient protections and the integrity of nursing and other health care professions. We look forward to working with Harris to help her accomplish these important… Read more
San Diego, CA – The United Nurses Associations of California/Union of Health Care Professionals (UNAC/UHCP) is partnering with the San Diego and Imperial Counties Labor Council and other local affiliate unions for the Labor Council’s annual holiday food and toy drive. The food and toys are collected from Labor Council affiliates and distributed to union families in need during the holiday season.
UNAC/UHCP will be collecting new, unwrapped toys, canned food and dry goods at its San Diego office, located at 10405 San Diego Mission Road, #106, San Diego, CA 92108. Those wishing to contribute to working families in need may drop off their donations at the UNAC/UHCP office through December 16th from 9:30 am to 6:00 pm, Monday through Friday. Please call ahead to arrange a time for drop off.
Each Labor Council affiliate is allotted a limited number of tickets to distribute to their union members in need,… Read more
Southern California – The United Nurses Associations of California/Union of Health Care Professionals (UNAC/UHCP), which represents a significant population of Filipino Registered Nurses and other health care professionals, held its 34th Convention at Planet Hollywood in Las Vegas, Nevada from November 7 through 10.
“We are a diverse union and it is through that diversity that we are best able to meet the needs of the communities our members serve and live in,” stated Kathy J. Sackman, long time president and UNAC/UHCP founder.
With Sackman set to retire at the end of this year, the election for her successor took place at this year’s convention. UNAC/UHCP Executive Vice President Ken Deitz was elected to serve as the organization’s President effective January 1, 2011. Deitz has been a key member of the UNAC/UHCP leadership team for over two decades, and a negotiator in almost every organization contract during the last 15… Read more
Bear Valley, CA – United Nurses Associations of California/Union of Health Care Professionals (UNAC/UHCP) and more than 200 employees at Bear Valley Community Hospital are calling on the hospital Board of Directors to come back to the negotiating table. Registered Nurses and other health care professionals at the hospital are seeking a new three year contract to replace the one that expired on September 30. Members of the negotiating team submitted a counter proposal to the Board of Directors last week.
“For months we have been attempting to reach a fair settlement, as we have done in previous years. On behalf of the 200 plus employees at Bear Valley Community Hospital, we sent the Board of Directors a counter proposal on November 13, 2010. We are prepared to compromise. We are willing to make another attempt to reach a three year agreement that addresses both the concerns that… Read more
The United Nurses Associations of California/Union of Health Care Professionals (UNAC/UHCP) opened its 34th Convention today at Planet Hollywood in Las Vegas, Nevada. During the opening address, long time UNAC/UHCP President and founder Kathy J. Sackman, RN announced her retirement.
Sackman recounted the organization’s origins in 1972 with Balboa Naval Hospital, Los Alamitos Hospital, Kaiser Fontana and McDonald Douglass implant nurses, who were jointly dissatisfied with their existing representation. Beginning as a group of 117 members, UNAC/UHCP now represents almost 19,000 Registered Nurses and Health Care Professionals.
“We have always been professional but we fight hard and we fight fair, even when we are challenged by those who are less honorable,” stated Sackman during the opening ceremonies. “We have always held ourselves to a higher standard.
During Sackman’s 38 years at UNAC/UHCP and 33 as President, UNAC/UHCP members were responsible for many first time union-related activities and union… Read more
San Dimas, CA – The United Nurses Associations of California/Union of Health Care Professionals (UNAC/UHCP) is pleased to announce that Barbara Lewis has joined the Southern California-based nurses’ union as the Director of Collective Bargaining and Representation Services.
Lewis will work with the UNAC/UHCP affiliate leadership to continue strengthening and building UNAC/UHCP’s representation and collective bargaining programs. Lewis’ focus will be to ensure that UNAC/UHCP members have the primary voice in protecting and advancing high quality patient care, and continue to win contracts that recognize the skill, expertise and commitment of UNAC/UHCP’s membership to their patients and communities.
“UNAC/UHCP affiliates are member driven and often experience workplace rights and patient care issues that are specific to their employer,” said Kathy J. Sackman, RN, president of UNAC/UHCP. “By providing the appropriate resources, UNAC/UHCP ensures our membership is effectively represented. We welcome Barbara Lewis in helping us accomplish this goal.”
Lewis is… Read more
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.
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.
“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.
