Resolution #1

ADVANCING NURSE PRACTITIONER AND PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT VOICE AND REPRESENTATION

1 WHEREAS:
2 UNAC/UHCP is a diverse union of health care professionals whose strength is built upon
3 ensuring that the voices, experiences, and professional interests of all its members are recognized
4 and meaningfully represented within the governance and collective bargaining structure of our
5 union; and
6 WHEREAS:
7 Overall, Nurse Practitioners and Physician Assistants represent significant and growing
8 membership within UNAC/UHCP, with approximately 2,641 members across the union, including
9 1,858 within the UNAC/UHCP Blue Book affiliates and bargaining unit; and
10 WHEREAS:
11 Nurse Practitioners and Physician Assistants perform highly skilled and essential roles in
12 the delivery of health care, with distinct professional responsibilities, scope of practice, workplace
13 experiences, and practice models that give rise to issues and priorities specific to their profession;
14 and
15 WHEREAS:
16 Workplace issues affecting Nurse Practitioners and Physician Assistants may at times differ
17 from other classifications represented within the same affiliate; and
18 WHEREAS:
19 The strength of our union is enhanced when the composition of its leadership and
20 bargaining structures reflects the membership it represents and provides meaningful opportunities
21 for distinct professional groups to participate in decisions directly affecting their working lives;
22 and
23 WHEREAS:
24 Meaningful representation requires a structural voice in the institution where decisions are
25 made, priorities are established, and bargaining strategies are developed; and
26
27

28 WHEREAS:
29 Members of other professional classifications often choose to follow a pathway into the
30 Nurse Practitioner or Physician Assistant role; and
31 WHEREAS:
32 Establishing meaningful opportunities for leadership and participation will strengthen
33 member engagement, develop future leaders, and improve representation among the Nurse
34 Practitioners and Physician Assistants represented by UNAC/UHCP.
35 THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED:
36 Affiliates representing Nurse Practitioners and Physician Assistants are encouraged to
37 review and amend their constitutions to establish meaningful representation of Nurse Practitioners
38 and Physician Assistants on their affiliate executive boards by providing one dedicated voting seat
39 on the affiliate executive board to be held by either a Nurse Practitioner or a Physician Assistant
40 vested with the same rights and privileges as other members of the affiliate executive board; and
41 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:
42 That UNAC/UHCP and its affiliates recognize that meaningful and direct representation
43 by Nurse Practitioners and Physician Assistants may require different internal collective
44 bargaining structures for Nurse Practitioners and Physician Assistants to have an effective voice
45 and meaningful participation in negotiations; and
46 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:
47 UNAC/UHCP and its affiliates commit to developing and maintaining internal collective
48 bargaining structures that ensure Nurse Practitioners and Physician Assistants have meaningful
49 and direct representation in the bargaining process with the employer, including the ability of
50 Nurse Practitioner and Physician Assistant members to independently identify, develop, advance,
51 and directly advocate for bargaining priorities arising from their distinct professional roles,
52 working conditions, and economical and professional interests; and
53 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:
54 That UNAC/UHCP shall support affected affiliates in developing governance and
55 bargaining structures consistent with the principles of this resolution, and
56 BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED:
57 That meaningful and direct representation for Nurse Practitioners and Physician Assistants
58 throughout the bargaining process, including the adoption of new structures, is intended to

59 complement and strengthen, not conflict with or diminish, the authority, unity, and solidarity of
60 the full bargaining team, including the collective priorities, decision-making process, and ultimate
61 authority of the full bargaining team.

SUBMITTED BY:
Douglas Wong, PA-C, Clinic President and Delegate
Sara Welzig, RN, Secretary and Delegate
Kaiser Riverside Registered Nurses – Union of Health Care Professionals (KRRN-UHCP)

Nicolasa Avey, RN, Hospital President and Delegate
Nate Poliakoff, RN, Clinic President and Delegate
Kaiser San Diego Health Care Professionals Association (KSDHCPA)

EXECUTIVE COUNCIL RECOMMENDATION: ADOPTION