UC nurses have called off strike plans after reaching a deal with the university

A planned work strike by University of California nurses has been called off after the university system and the nurses’ union reached a tentative deal over pay and benefits, the two groups announced Sunday.

Four-year agreement, UC and California Nurses Assn. Between, it covers about 25,000 registered nurses who work at 19 UC facilities. The two groups have been negotiating a new contract since June.

The deal follows another announced Nov. 8 between UC and the University Professional and Technical Staff Association, which represents 21,000 health care, research and technical professionals across the UC system. The groups have been negotiating a new agreement for 17 months.

The nurses’ union planned to strike Monday and Tuesday in solidarity with a third union, AFSCME 3299, which represents patient care technicians, custodians, food service workers, security guards, secretaries and other workers at UC hospitals and campuses.

Kristen Delmarti, a registered nurse at UCLA Santa Monica and a member of the nurses union’s board of directors and bargaining team, said the union “organized and won for important patient protections” in the deal — which she said nurses will vote to ratify this week.

“Going into this phase of the deal, it was our priority to ensure that UC nurses were resourced to care for our patients and ourselves after years of being short-staffed and under-resourced,” she said. “We achieved our goal and now we stand together with our AFSCME colleagues, their essential work demands the same resources guaranteed by a fair contract.”

The nurses union said thousands of its members still plan to join AFSCME picket lines “while not on the job.”

UC officials also praised the agreement. Macy Mitella, assistant vice president for system-wide employee and labor relations, said it “reflects the tireless work and collaboration of the UC bargaining team, medical center leaders, and system-wide leadership working hand-in-hand with our dedicated nurses.”

“We thank the nurses and the CNA Bargaining Team for their partnership and shared commitment to what matters most: our patients and the UC community,” Mattella said. “This strong, significant deal underscores the critical role nurses play in delivering exceptional care and advancing UC’s mission of public service.”

AFSCME 3299 was still planning to strike. On Sunday morning, it posted a video to social media of members preparing to hold strike signs.

“When we come together, we succeed together. This is what we deserve for our families, our patients, and the future!” The group wrote on X “Members and allies, bring your energy, see you in line!”