University of California reaches labor agreement with nurses
University of California nurses recently voted to ratify a 26-month labor agreement with the educational institution after prolonged disagreements over salary and retirement benefits, the Daily Californian reports.
As part of the contract, staffing levels will be maintained during meal and rest periods.
According to the California Nurses Association, which represents more than 11,000 nurses systemwide, nurses had previously been sacrificing meal and rest periods because staffing ratios had not been met.
The contract will affect nurses who work for the university's five medical centers - which are located in San Francisco, San Diego, Irvine, Davis and Los Angeles - as well as student health center nurses at other UC campuses.
"The meal and break rest issue is very a important patient safety issue," said CNA spokesperson Liz Jacobs. "You've got to be able to be on your toes. If you can't do that … (the job is) physically as well as emotionally challenging.
California law requires employers to provide nonexempt workers with a rest period of at least 10 consecutive minutes for each four-hour period of employee attendance, as well as a 30-minute meal period for more than five hours' work.
As part of the contract, staffing levels will be maintained during meal and rest periods.
According to the California Nurses Association, which represents more than 11,000 nurses systemwide, nurses had previously been sacrificing meal and rest periods because staffing ratios had not been met.
The contract will affect nurses who work for the university's five medical centers - which are located in San Francisco, San Diego, Irvine, Davis and Los Angeles - as well as student health center nurses at other UC campuses.
"The meal and break rest issue is very a important patient safety issue," said CNA spokesperson Liz Jacobs. "You've got to be able to be on your toes. If you can't do that … (the job is) physically as well as emotionally challenging.
California law requires employers to provide nonexempt workers with a rest period of at least 10 consecutive minutes for each four-hour period of employee attendance, as well as a 30-minute meal period for more than five hours' work.
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