Bargaining Team
Bargaining Team members Joy Josafat, MSW, Andre Gatewood, SLP, and Kimberly Vu, PharmD, with UNAC/UHCP President Charmaine S. Morales, RN, at a bargaining session.
Contracts & Bargaining
Bargaining Updates: Sharp Chula Vista Health Care Professionals (2025)
Stay Ready. Stay Engaged.
See www.unacuhcp.org/SPNNHQ to stay updated with the latest information and actions related to our fight for a fair contract.
We Have Overwhelmingly Voted to Authorize a Strike
SPNN RNs and Sharp Chula Vista health care professionals both voted overwhelmingly, by 97% and 93% respectively, to authorize a strike if necessary.
Both units conducted a historic strike vote this week, signaling the unity between nurses and health care professionals at Sharp HealthCare in demanding fair contracts that elevate patient care.
Reminder: we are required by federal law to provide an employer with a notice of intent to strike ten days in advance. If our bargaining teams do call for a strike, Sharp (and all of us) will have plenty of advance notice.
Negotiations are ongoing, with dates set for SPNN bargaining next Wednesday and Thursday.
At the same time, preparations for a massive strike against Sharp continue, in case we must take that step in order to win the contracts our members demand and deserve.
Bargaining Update #10: October 24, 2025
Together We Move Forward — Even When Sharp Doesn’t!
Download a PDF of this announcement.
BARGAINING UPDATE #8: August 22, 2025
Download a PDF of this bargaining update.
We reached a new Tentative Agreement (TA) on Article 22/Item 16 – Safety and Health. This important agreement ensures strong protections for healthcare professionals by placing the responsibility on the employer to maintain a safe and healthy workplace. The TA requires the employer to provide necessary resources to protect frontline workers against infectious diseases, such as providing personal protective equipment (PPE), and establishes safeguards against workplace violence.
We also gave management the following proposals:
- Article 26 – Association Leave of Absence and Access Rights
- Article 8 – Corrective Action and Discipline
- Article 17 – Leaves of Absence
- Article 13 – No Strike / No Lockout
- Item 19 – Courtesy – Union Counter Proposal
- Item 13 – Professional Liability Coverage – Union Counter Proposal
We received management’s counterproposals on:
- Article 10 – Probation and Employee Evaluations
- Item 19 – Courtesy
Management rejected our proposal on Item 15 – Standard’s Preserve.
BARGAINING UPDATE #6: July 17, 2025
Download a PDF of this bargaining update.
Thursday, July 17, 2025, 7:15 p.m. – Virtual Town Hall
We are presenting a comprehensive update on bargaining at the virtual Town Hall.
Four TA’S Reached!
On Wednesday, July 16, 2025 we met with management and reached four new Tentative Agreements (TA’s):
• Item 10: Parking
• Item 11: Savings Clause
• Item 12: Non-Discrimination & Lactation
• Item 9: Gender Neutral Language
BARGAINING UPDATE #5: July 11, 2025
Our bargaining team and Sharp management met on Wednesday evening. Sharp passed a counterproposal on Ergonomics and Workspaces. Our union bargaining team gave a counter on Professionals’ Schedules aimed to protect the integrity of employees’ schedules and advocate for improvements.
Winning a first contract takes solidarity and action. We must continue to build on our collective power and invite all members to the Town Hall on July 17th for further updates.
Download a PDF of this bargaining update.
What’s Next?
Solidarity Shirt Days
Wear your UNAC/UHCP T-shirt or a blue T-shirt on the days we have contract negotiations:
- July 16, 2025
This shows management that we are engaged and united!
Thursday, July 17 – Town Hall
Mark your calendar for our next Town Hall, which will take place virtually over Zoom:
- July 17, 2025, 7:15 p.m.
Join Zoom Meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83755046281
Meeting ID: 837 5504 6281
BARGAINING UPDATE #4: June 27, 2025
Our bargaining team was encouraged by the strong participation in Solidarity Shirt Day, with members from multiple different departments and classifications demonstrating unity by wearing UNAC/UHCP or blue T-shirts. Management noticed as well.
We met with management on June 25 at Spectrum Center. Significant discussion centered on scheduling practices. We proposed contract language designed to establish greater transparency and accountability in scheduling, including a rest period between overnight shifts for pharmacists. We believe our proposal protects the well-being of members and supports patient-safety. Management countered our proposal, rejecting the addition of a rest period between overnight shifts and restated managerial authority to mandatorily assign shifts and mandatory overtime.
We also proposed:
• seniority language, clarifying seniority as recognized by the date of hire and addressed how per diems accrue seniority;
• designated paid holidays with a religious and floating holiday; and
• language seeking transparency in holiday scheduling and holiday/premium pay.
Download a PDF of this bargaining update.
What’s Next?
Join Us at Office Hours
Have questions? Come to Office Hours at SCVMC Nellie Barrington Room, 1st floor, across from patient elevators:
• July 3, 2025, Hours, 3-5 p.m.
Solidarity Shirt Days
Wear your UNAC/UHCP T-shirt or a blue T-shirt on the days we have contract negotiations:
• July 9, 2025
• July 16, 2025
This shows management that we are engaged and united!
Save the Date: Next Town Hall
Mark your calendar for our next Town Hall, which will take place virtually over on Zoom:
• July 17, 2025, 7:15 p.m.
BARGAINING UPDATE #3: April 23, 2025
On Saturday, April 19, 2025 we met with management and presented proposals on important workplace topics: committees, licenses and certifications, and training and education.
- Proposal on Committees: Our bargaining team proposed the creation of labor management committees so that professionals can have a voice on issues that impact our profession and patient care. The proposal also included expanding frontline representation in other healthcare committees.
- Proposal on Licenses and Certifications: We proposed that the employer cover all costs associated with licensing and certifications, and increase the continuing education program so that professionals can stay updated with the quickly changing healthcare field and evolving patient care needs.
- Proposal on Training and Education: Our proposal outlined employer-provided support for student loans and educational advancement.
We were excited to be joined by UNAC/UHCP President Charmaine S. Morales, RN.
The next bargaining session will take place in May, pending management’s availability.
If you have questions or concerns, please reach out to a bargaining team member or email ProfessionalsUnited@unacuhcp.org. Find bargaining updates at unacuhcp.org/2025-bargaining.
Download a PDF of this bargaining update.
Andre Gatewood, SLPI have tremendous pride in seeing how hard we all work to provide exceptional care to our patients. I am excited to work with you to forge a union contract that will create a more stable, supportive, and financially tenable working environment for all of us.
Bargaining team member, 3 years at SCV
BARGAINING UPDATE #2: April 8, 2025
On Saturday, April 5, we told management:
1. They should go ahead and give us any planned wage increases
2. We believe management is breaking the law
Yes to Increases
Management recently communicated that they had scheduled raises but would not give them because we formed our union.
We made our position clear that they’re obligated to implement all scheduled wage increases, due to the legal requirement to maintain status quo while bargaining our contract.
We even offered to give them a letter releasing them from any legal liability for giving us raises (even though no such liability exists).
No to Forced Use of PTO to Negotiate
We have chosen to bargain on Saturdays because management refuses to release elected bargaining committee members from work without requiring them to use and deplete PTO.
We informed management across the table we believe that’s a violation of the law.
New Proposals
We made three new proposals:
1. To incorporate our professionals unit into the existing Sharp RN contract, then bargain provisions specific to our group.
2. Restoration, at the end of bargaining, of any PTO used by bargaining committee members to attend negotiations.
3. Ergonomic and workspace requirements to ensure safer working conditions and improve care.
NEXT BARGAINING DATE: SATURDAY, APRIL 19
HAVE A QUESTION? Contact a bargaining team member or email
ProfessionalsUnited@unacuhcp.org.
All bargaining updates are uploaded to unacuhcp.org/2025-bargaining.
Joy Josafat, MSWI truly have enjoyed working at SCV and while I have always felt supported, I know that is not the case for everyone. I want to be able to voice my coworkers’ concerns and make sure we are heard, so that we all work together to not only support one another, but to provide our patients with the best care.
Bargaining team member, 14.5 years at SCV
BARGAINING UPDATE #1
February 12, 2025
We met with Sharp HealthCare for our first bargaining session on Wednesday, February 12, 2025. Key highlights from today:
- We worked on establishing ground rules to facilitate productive bargaining.
- We suggested a streamlined approach to expedite bargaining.
- Unfortunately Sharp was unwilling to give our bargaining team representatives unpaid release time to attend bargaining sessions.
- Sharp refused to bargain at Chula Vista due to “parking concerns.”
- We are one union with one voice.
Download bargaining update: Bargaining Update #1: February 12, 2025
Kimberly Vu, PharmDI am honored to serve alongside my peers. I am committed to the goals of our professional group and strive to work hard. My strengths include perseverance, fairness, and open-mindedness. I hope to reach a fair contract that will align with Sharp Healthcare as “the best place to work and receive care.
Bargaining team member, 19 years at SCV