California Nurses Association

California Nurses Association. The California Nurses Association (CNA) is a labor union that represents registered nurses in California, and is affiliated with the National Nurses United (NNU) and the AFL-CIO. The CNA was founded in 1903 as the California State Nurses' Association, and has since become one of the largest and most influential nursing unions in the United States, with members working at hospitals such as Kaiser Permanente, Stanford Health Care, and University of California, San Francisco Medical Center. The CNA has been involved in various labor disputes and strikes over the years, including a notable strike against Sutter Health in 2011, which drew support from National Nurses United and other labor unions such as the Service Employees International Union.

● History

The California Nurses Association has a long and complex history, dating back to the early 20th century when it was founded as the California State Nurses' Association. The organization has undergone several name changes over the years, including a merger with the United American Nurses in 1995 to form the California Nurses Association/National Nurses Organizing Committee (CNA/NNOC). The CNA/NNOC later merged with the United American Nurses and the Massachusetts Nurses Association to form National Nurses United in 2009, with the CNA becoming a founding member of the new organization. The CNA has been led by several notable labor leaders over the years, including Rose Ann DeMoro, who served as executive director from 1986 to 2018 and was a key figure in the National Nurses United and its predecessor organizations, working closely with other labor leaders such as John Sweeney of the AFL-CIO and Andy Stern of the Service Employees International Union.

● Organization

The California Nurses Association is a democratic organization that is governed by its members, who elect delegates to represent them at the state and national levels. The CNA is affiliated with National Nurses United, which is the largest labor union of registered nurses in the United States, with members working at hospitals such as Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, University of California, Los Angeles Medical Center, and Children's Hospital Los Angeles. The CNA has a strong presence in California, with members working at hospitals and healthcare facilities throughout the state, including Kaiser Permanente, Sutter Health, and Dignity Health. The organization is headquartered in Oakland, California, and has a number of local chapters and labor councils throughout the state, including the Alameda County Central Labor Council and the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor.

● Collective Bargaining

The California Nurses Association is a strong advocate for collective bargaining rights, and has negotiated numerous labor contracts on behalf of its members over the years. The CNA has a long history of labor disputes and strikes, including a notable strike against Kaiser Permanente in 2011, which drew support from National Nurses United and other labor unions such as the Service Employees International Union and the International Brotherhood of Teamsters. The CNA has also been involved in various labor disputes with other healthcare providers, including Sutter Health and Dignity Health, and has worked closely with other labor unions such as the United Healthcare Workers West and the National Union of Healthcare Workers. The organization has a strong commitment to patient advocacy and nursing practice, and has negotiated labor contracts that include provisions for safe staffing ratios, professional development, and worker safety, in line with the principles of the American Nurses Association and the International Council of Nurses.

● Political Activism

The California Nurses Association is a politically active organization that has been involved in a number of high-profile political campaigns over the years. The CNA has been a strong supporter of single-payer healthcare and has advocated for Medicare for All legislation at the state and federal levels, working closely with Bernie Sanders and other progressive politicians such as Elizabeth Warren and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. The organization has also been involved in various labor rights and social justice campaigns, including the Fight for $15 and the Black Lives Matter movement, and has worked with other social justice organizations such as the American Civil Liberties Union and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. The CNA has a strong commitment to grassroots organizing and community outreach, and has worked to build coalitions with other labor unions and community organizations to advance its goals, including the California Labor Federation and the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor.

● Membership and Structure

The California Nurses Association has a diverse membership of over 100,000 registered nurses working in hospitals, clinics, and other healthcare facilities throughout California. The organization is structured into a number of local chapters and labor councils, which are responsible for organizing and representing members at the local level. The CNA also has a number of caucuses and committees that focus on specific issues, such as nursing practice, patient advocacy, and labor rights, and has worked closely with other nursing organizations such as the American Nurses Association and the International Council of Nurses. The organization is led by a board of directors that is elected by its members, and has a number of staff members who work to support the organization's activities, including RoseAnn DeMoro, who served as executive director from 1986 to 2018.

● Notable Campaigns

The California Nurses Association has been involved in a number of notable labor campaigns and political campaigns over the years. One of the organization's most notable campaigns was its strike against Kaiser Permanente in 2011, which drew support from National Nurses United and other labor unions such as the Service Employees International Union and the International Brotherhood of Teamsters. The CNA has also been involved in various labor disputes with other healthcare providers, including Sutter Health and Dignity Health, and has worked closely with other labor unions such as the United Healthcare Workers West and the National Union of Healthcare Workers. The organization has a strong commitment to patient advocacy and nursing practice, and has negotiated labor contracts that include provisions for safe staffing ratios, professional development, and worker safety, in line with the principles of the American Nurses Association and the International Council of Nurses, and has worked with other healthcare organizations such as the Joint Commission and the American Hospital Association.

Category:Healthcare in California