By David King
Daily Bruin Contributor
As part of a state-wide protest at six UC medical centers, about
50 nurses representing the UCLA Medical Center picketed Wednesday
at the intersection of Westwood Boulevard and Le Conte Avenue.
Upset over what California Nurses Association officials say are
stalled contract negotiations with the university, the nurses
““ many on their lunch breaks between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.
““ chanted and passed out flyers to voice their concerns.
The contract negotiations, which began late February, have since
stalled due to the university’s proposed 1 percent pay
increase and its failure to discuss employee rights, said David
Johnson, UC division director of the CNA.
“The university has dealt a very hard line, especially
considering the shortage of nurses throughout the state,”
Johnson said.
UC spokesman Brad Hayward, however, said that the university is
hopeful for a quick resolution in the negotiations.
“We are hoping to make an agreement soon, and meet the
union’s concerns successfully,” Hayward said.
A point of contention for the union is the university’s
proposed 1 percent wage increase.
“The 1 percent pay increase is incredible ““
it’s insulting to the nurses,” Johnson said.
Emmanuel Punzalan, a registered nurse and demonstrator, said
that janitors at the UCLA Medical Center recently received a 3
percent pay increase, and feels that the university has been unfair
in their dealings with the nurses’ union.
“The contract negotiations show how they don’t
respect us,” Punzalan said.
But Punzalan maintained that the major issue was not about
wages.
“We’re not here about the money, we’re here
for patient quality,” Punzalan said. “That’s
really what this is all about.”
Similar to the picketing in Westwood, other CNA demonstrations
simultaneously took place at the four other UC medical centers
““ San Francisco, Davis, Irvine, San Diego ““ and at the
UC Berkeley Student Health Center.
The CNA represents roughly 8,000 UC nurses throughout the state,
including 2,000 in Westwood and Santa Monica.
Hayward said negotiations are scheduled to resume Tuesday, and
though the university’s positions have not changed, he said
the negotiations are a “give and take process.”
“These are valuable employees,” Hayward said.
“We are bargaining in good faith.”
Johnson said unless the university changes its position, there
could be drastic effects at the medical center.
“If they don’t come up with fairer wages, nurses
could be leaving the university in droves,” Johnson said.
“There’s a tremendous level of anger out there.
“This has a dramatic impact on our patient care, if we are
losing skilled nurses,” he added.
Another issue the CNA is disputing are proposed policies by the
administration regarding sick leave.
According to Johnson, managers hope to discourage nurses who use
their sick leave, adding that such policies are harmful to both the
nurses and their patients.
Other concerns by the nurses include employee rights and
seniority.
If the contract negotiations do not resolve, Johnson said there
is a possibility of further action by the nurses, including a
hearing before the higher education committee in the state
legislature.
“We’re going to be evaluating our options,”
Johnson said.