FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 8, 2022
Contacts:
Jeff Rogers | jeff.rogers@unacuhcp.org | (909) 263-7230
Anjetta Thackeray | anjetta.thackeray@unacuhcp.org | (909) 455-5146
UNAC/UHCP Hails Restoration of Paid COVID Sick Leave in California
Note: frontline RNs and health care professionals throughout California are available to talk about the impacts of this bill.
LOS ANGELES – UNAC/UHCP released this statement by Denise Duncan, RN, UNAC/UHCP President, on yesterday’s passage by the California legislature of a new COVID paid sick leave bill so that workers can care for themselves and their families and help contain the spread of the virus:
“Frontline nurses, other members of our union, and countless others have been working extra shifts and have been out sick multiple times in recent weeks, at personal cost to themselves and their families.
“That’s why we pushed so hard for the restoration of COVID paid leave and applaud our state leaders, Governor Gavin Newsom, Senate President pro Tempore Toni G. Atkins and Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon, for getting it done. This extension of COVID leave is a decision long overdue for thousands of frontline registered nurses and health care professionals.
“This commitment to extend pandemic-related leave to workers throughout California will protect the health care community as well as the patients receiving care.
“The actions announced today will restore what so many health care workers have lost and help protect them from what lies ahead.”
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United Nurses Associations of California/Union of Health Care Professionals (UNAC/UHCP) represents more than 32,000 registered nurses and other health care professionals in California and Hawaii, including optometrists; pharmacists; physical, occupational and speech therapists; case managers; nurse midwives; social workers; clinical lab scientists; physician assistants and nurse practitioners. UNAC/UHCP is affiliated with the National Union of Hospital and Health Care Employees and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, AFL-CIO.