RNs to protest county’s undermining of contract negotiations by making unilateral changes outside of the bargaining process

Hundreds of registered nurses in San Joaquin County’s health system will hold an unfair labor practice (ULP) strike on Friday, Jan.17, to protest management’s persistent undermining of the bargaining process, announced California Nurses Association/National Nurses United (CNA/NNU). The nurses filed a ULP charge against the county, charging that management made unilateral changes outside of the bargaining process, jeopardizing the recruitment and retention of nurses, which has a direct impact on patient safety.

After an investigation, the Public Employment Relations Board, an administrative agency that oversees the collective bargaining laws covering public employees, issued a complaint on Dec. 2, 2024, against San Joaquin County for committing unfair labor practices by making unilateral changes. The next step is for the county and the union to participate in a PERB mediation. 

CNA represents more than 1,000 registered nurses across San Joaquin County, including public health and county jail nurses, and RNs at San Joaquin General Hospital (SJGH) in French Camp, Calif.

Who: Registered nurses across San Joaquin County
What: One-day ULP strike for a fair contract
When: Friday, Jan. 17, 7 a.m. to Saturday, Jan. 18, 6:59 a.m., rally at 1 p.m. on Friday
Where: San Joaquin General Hospital, 400 W. Hospital Rd., French Camp, Calif. 95231

Nurses gave their employer advance notice for the strike on Jan. 7. The nurses’ contract expired on April 30, 2024.

Since negotiations began in March 2024, the county’s persistent undermining of the bargaining process has led to protracted negotiations as the union tries to correct the unfair impacts created by the county implementing a wage increase that did not apply to all nurses, without bargaining with the union before doing so. This is an unfair labor practice.

“We are holding an unfair labor practice strike because San Joaquin County’s divisive and unfair actions are damaging our ability to retain experienced nurses,” said Kelly Mertz, RN in the trauma unit at SJGH. “The county should come to the table to negotiate a strong contract that’s fair to all nurses. We always strive to give our patients the best care. I’m proud to be a union nurse and to stand up for patients, our community, and ourselves.”

“We deserve to be treated with respect, but the county is not respecting our rights as nurses or as union members,” said Stacey Lo, RN in the labor and delivery/post-partum unit at SJGH. “It is unconscionable that the county would undermine contract negotiations and make unilateral changes outside the bargaining process. This is why we are striking.”

In November 2024, nurses spoke out at the San Joaquin County Board of Supervisors meeting to demand a fair resolution to the ULP charge and the contract. And, on Nov. 19, they held an informational picket for patient safety and equal treatment.

California Nurses Association/National Nurses United is the largest and fastest-growing union and professional association of registered nurses in the nation with more than 100,000 members in more than 200 facilities throughout California and nearly 225,000 RNs nationwide.