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NURSES TO STRIKE UC

July 18, 2005

NURSES TO STRIKE UC

THIS THURSDAY, JULY 21, JOIN A NURSE FOR LUNCH
(ON THE PICKET LINE)

Yes, it's another strike. The 4th in 3 months. The University of California is having a hard spring and summer. Way too many strikes! Must be the low pay and abuse. Or maybe the high cost of benefits. Or maybe it's the Unfair Labor Practices. Funny how a corporate mindset drives UC management to do the very things that will increase union membership and activism when top administrators apparently want just the opposite.

This Thursday, July 21st, it's the nurses. The California Nurses Association has called for a one-day strike over "serious, substantial, and pervasive unfair Labor practices by the University of California preceding and in the course of bargaining."

Sound familiar? It should. UC is operating out of the same playbook used on CUE in 2002 and on UPTE and AFSCME this spring. And other unions at other times.

WHAT WE RECOMMEND:

This CNA strike action will be focused mostly on the UC medical centers/hospitals:
UC San Diego - Hillcrest & Thornton
UC Irvine Med Center
UCLA - WW and Santa Monica
UCSF - Parnassus & Mnt Zion
UC Davis Med Center

The rest of us are off the hook for actual striking, though we and the CNA would be pleased to learn that you wore your most attractive CUE shirt and a UNITY button on Thursday, and maybe posted a CNA support flyer near your desk. (It's sure to alarm some anti-union boss.)

IF YOU WORK AT A MEDICAL CENTER, AND IF REPORTING TO YOUR PLACE OF WORK WOULD REQUIRE THAT YOU CROSS A PICKET LINE:

Please don't. You have a perfectly legal right to honor a picket line. You have a legal right to join it. Please do. And stay there in your CUE shirt where the media can see you. If anyone asks, tell them you support the nurses -- that we all stand together against unfair labor practices including outright union- busting. (Not to mention the $20 million (that could have been a 4% pay increase) that UC diverted from the clerical staff in 2003-2004!)

IF YOU WORK AT A CAMPUS WITH A MEDICAL CENTER, AND REPORTING TO YOUR PLACE OF WORK DOES NOT REQUIRE THAT YOU CROSS A PICKET LINE (ON CAMPUS, FOR EXAMPLE, AWAY FROM ITS MEDICAL FACILITY):

As a general rule, it probably would be best for you to go work - unless of course you get approval for a vacation day. Whether at work or on vacation, "appropriate dress" is recommended - that always fashionable CUE shirt with accessorizing UNITY button. Very chic.

IF YOU WORK AT A CAMPUS WITH A STUDENT HEALTH CENTER, SUCH AS RIVERSIDE, SANTA BARBARA, BERKELEY, OR SANTA CRUZ, PLEASE KEEP ALERT TO FIND OUT WHAT IS PLANNED BY WAY OF PICKET LINES AND RALLIES AT YOUR CAMPUS' HEALTH CENTER.

No matter where you work, the chances are that there are going to be nurses nearby who will welcome your support during the day, even if it is before work, on breaks, and after work. And please look to see if there will be a noontime rally near you.

THURSDAY, JULY 21: TAKE A NURSE TO LUNCH -- OR TAKE LUNCH TO A NURSE!

There'll be Fellowship, Media, Music, Good Times, Noisy Chants, Rude Fiery Speeches -- all the things you've come to expect from a UC workers' strike in the spring and summer of 2005!

-- CUE Statewide Executive Board