San Joaquin County nurses to hold one-day unfair labor practice strike on Jan. 17

RNs to protest county's persistent undermining of bargaining process

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 and circumvention of the bargaining process since the nurse's contract expired on April 30, 2024, announced California Nurses Association/National Nurses United (CNA/NNU).

This notice follows a nearly unanimous strike authorization vote in December. Nurses gave their employer advance notice for the strike. CNA represents more than 1,000 registered nurses across San Joaquin County, including public health and county jail nurses, as well as RNs at San Joaquin General Hospital (SJGH) in French Camp, Calif.

Who: Registered nurses at 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.
Where: San Joaquin General Hospital, 400 W. Hospital Rd., French Camp, CA 95231

Since negotiations began in March 2024, the county's undermining of the bargaining process has led to protracted negotiations as the union tries to correct the disparate impacts created by the county's actions. The county has made unilateral changes outside of the bargaining process, jeopardizing the recruitment and retention of nurses, which directly impacts patient safety. After an investigation, the Public Employment Relations Board issued a complaint against the county for committing unfair labor practices by making unilateral changes.

"We care about our patients and our community," said Kelly Mertz, RN in the trauma unit at SJGH. "We must be able to retain nurses to provide care. The county's divisive and unfair actions damage the county's ability to recruit and especially retain experienced nurses. We are striking to secure an equitable contract that will ensure the county can hold on to and recruit nurses to care for our community."

"The county is not respecting our rights as nurses and as union members. Their tactics have delayed a fair and equitable resolution to our contract. This is why we are striking," said Stacey Lo, RN in the labor and delivery/post-partum unit at SJGH. "We are fighting for a strong contract, so we can recruit and retain nurses and give our patients the best care."

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 represents more than 1,000 nurses employed by San Joaquin County.

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.