Your BU 17 bargaining team continues to advocate for improvements that support recruitment & retention, workplace protections, and fair compensation for our nurses across the state.
Bargaining Activity This Week:
After additional bargaining sessions, the BU 17 bargaining team has continued presenting proposals while also receiving Tentative Agreements (TAs) from the State that preserve existing contract protections and rights for nurses statewide.
Proposals: The following proposals were formally presented to the State for consideration. These items have not yet been agreed to and are still awaiting a response from the State.
11.17.17 – Recruitment & Retention Differential
The bargaining team presented a proposal for a Recruitment and Retention (R&R) differential for facilities experiencing severe staffing shortages and high vacancy rates. This proposal is intended to support workers in understaffed locations and improve recruitment efforts where staffing challenges continue to impact workloads and patient care.
11.56.17 – Registered Nurse Lead Differential
The team also proposed improvements to the RN Lead Differential. Registered Nurses serving in lead roles continue to take on increased medical, administrative, and supervisory responsibilities, and the bargaining team is advocating for compensation that better reflects the level of responsibility and licensure required for these positions.
11.59.17 – Nurse Surveyor Incentive
The bargaining team proposed language changes to ensure nurses assigned to Los Angeles for survey work receive the $250 incentive payment each time they are required to travel. The updated language is intended to remove barriers that previously prevented employees from receiving this compensation.
Mandatory Overtime (MOT) Sections:
19.14.17 – Overtime Mandatory Scheduling – CDCR/CHCS
19.15.17 – Overtime Mandatory Scheduling (Excluding CDCR)
The bargaining team continues fighting to reduce and ultimately eliminate Mandatory Overtime (MOT) for nurses in both correctional and non-correctional settings. Reducing excessive mandatory overtime remains one of the union’s major bargaining priorities.
Tentative Agreements (TAs)
The bargaining team reached several rollover tentative agreements this week that maintain important existing contract protections and provisions.
- Article 19 Tentative Agreements
- 19.3.17 – Rest Periods
- 19.4.17 – Meal Periods
- 19.7.17 – Report Preparation Time
- 19.9.17 – Exchange of Days Off
- 19.25.17 – Travel Time
- 19.26.17 – Workweek Correctional Institutions
Additional Tentative Agreements
20.6.17 Post and Bid Procedure for Vacant Registered Nurse Positions – Veteran’s Homes (CalVet).
This agreement improves support for post and bid procedures by allowing experienced headquarters staff to assist local veterans homes as needed, ensuring smoother implementation.
Articles 12, 21, and Appendix Sections
The following existing contract language provisions were also passed to maintain existing protections and benefits:
- 12.6.17 — Alternate Transportation
- 12.10.17 — Replacement of Damaged Personal Clothing and/or Articles
- 21.22.17 — Licensure
- Appendix 16.17 — Side Letter
- Appendix 2.17 — FLSA Exempt Employee Differential
Correctional Treatment Centers (CTCs) – Appendix N, Side Letter 7.17
The bargaining team also proposed language updates related to the maintenance and activation of Correctional Treatment Centers (CTCs), including clarifying language to ensure both CDCR and CCHCS remain responsible for maintaining these facilities. This item has not yet been agreed to, and the BU17 team is still awaiting a response from the State.
Your bargaining team remains committed to protecting existing rights while continuing to fight for stronger staffing protections, fair compensation, and improved working conditions for BU 17 members statewide.
To all nurses across California, thank you for your unwavering dedication, compassion, and the essential care you provide to your patients and communities every single day.
BU 17 Bargaining Team
Chair, Vanessa Seastrong – DSH
Vice Chair, Kimberly Manuel – CDCR
Alternate Vice Chair, Elsa Monroe – CDCR
BUNC Member, Michele Taylor – CDCR
BUNC Member, Leticia Whitman – CDCR