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)
Bargaining Update #15: January 30, 2026
Full Tentative Agreement Reached!
We have historic news: your bargaining team has reached a full Tentative Agreement (TA) with management on our very first union contract. This agreement provides real, enforceable gains that we, as Sharp Chula Vista Health Care Professionals, fought hard for by standing together.
This first contract establishes the full scope of benefits and protections we deserve, including:
Workplace Rights & Protections
• A formal paid time off process with contractual protections
• Enforceable language on working conditions
• Flexibility for required modules to be completed off-site
• Clear job bidding and posting language
• Layoff protections and just-cause
• Progressive discipline
• Creation of a health care professionals Labor-Management Committee
Economics and Retirement Benefits
• Establishment of a wage schedule
• Significant increase in the wage cap
• Competitive lump sum payments for our members who are currently compensated at a wage that is above the grid
• Guaranteed competitive ATBs that ensure wage growth every year of the contract for a vast majority of members
• Establishment of ratification bonus and acknowledgment of FULL Years of Experience
• Retiree medical benefits and a Retirement Health Reimbursement Account
ESI & PTO Protections
• 72 hours of ESI front-loaded each year for full-time and part-time employees
• No expiration of ESI with rollover
• PTO accrual language secured in the contract
• Benefits that are enforceable and no longer subject to unilateral change by management
Contract Term
• A four-year agreement aligned with the SPNN RN contract duration and expiration
This TA is a major milestone. It brings stability, transparency, and respect to our work as health care professionals—and it would not have been possible without us demonstrating our collective power.
What’s Next: Contract Ratification
Now, we enter the contract ratification phase. This means you vote on whether or not to accept the tentative agreement.
As a reminder, our bargaining team recommends a yes vote to ratify the contract. We believe the tentative agreement secures a stronger voice in patient care and in the workplace. We are proud that we stayed strong and united throughout bargaining despite facing employer resistance.
Informational Meeting
We are hosting several informational sessions to answer your questions.
Virtual Information Sessions: Join these informational sessions to learn more about the tentative agreement and the voting process.
• Wednesday, 2/4/26 @ 6:30 PM – 8:00 PM via zoom
• Friday, 2/6/26 @ 6:30pm – 8:00 PM via zoom.
Here is the Zoom link to any of the informational meetings listed above:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88934162789
Meeting ID: 889 3416 2789
Office Hours: Drop-in to office hours to ask more specific, personalized questions.
• Thursday, 2/5/26 @ 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM, Sharp Chula Vista, Barrington Conference Room
• Monday, 2/9/26 @ 7:00 AM – 11:00 AM, Sharp Chula Vista, Location TBD.
Our Union Power
To vote in this Contract Ratification election, you must first become a UNAC/UHCP member. Joining UNAC/UHCP is more than a step towards gaining a collective bargaining agreement—it’s a foundation that empowers us to advocate more effectively for the patients and communities we serve. By joining UNAC/UHCP, we will also be contributing union dues, which allows us to pool resources to build the sustained power needed to keep fighting for better patient care and stronger communities.
Membership Card
For your vote to be counted, you must become a UNAC/UHCP member. To join, complete this membership card or scan the QR code.
Start of Vote:
Monday February 9, 2026, 12 noon
End of Vote:
Thursday, February 12, 2026, 12 noon
Only those who have completed the membership card prior to the close of the election will be eligible to vote. Please make your vote counts and become a UNAC/UHCP member. Voting will take place electronically through ElectionBuddy, a third-party vendor that runs online union elections. During the voting period, you will receive an email and text instructions from ElectionBuddy on how to vote after you have completed the UNAC/UHCP membership card.
If you have questions about UNAC/UHCP membership, please contact UNAC/UHCP’s Member Action Resource Center (MARC) at 1-877-506-4554.
Bargaining Update #13: January 9, 2026
Economic Proposal from Sharp Shows Some Movement
We met with management virtually on Wednesday morning, during which Sharp presented an economic counterproposal on Article 15: Wages. Ahead of the meeting, our team worked over the holidays, and submitted a counterproposal digitally to the employer on January 2, 2026. At this week’s negotiation session, Sharp:
• made movement on across-the-board raises, increasing their numbers from their previous proposal for years one, two, and three, and added a proposal for a fourth year.
• maintained Sharp’s position on a 15% cap and lump sums, something we strongly oppose.
• added language to respect existing practices for preceptors and pay. On our end, we are seeking parity with other UNAC/UHCP contract language, which provides monetary compensation to anyone assigned as a preceptor.
• rejected our proposal to move Pro classifications to higher classifications, but stated they are still reviewing this.
• attempted to offer no retro pay. We will continue to fight for retro pay.
Next Bargaining Sessions:
We will meet in-person with Sharp on January 12, January 14, and January 22.
In the early morning hours of Friday, January 9, 2025, the registered nurses at Sharp reached a tentative agreement (TA) on their contract. In the coming weeks, the nurses will vote to ratify the contract, but their reaching a TA has paved the way for Sharp to work with us to settle our contract.
Our strongest move now is remain strong and united, even as Sharp attempts to isolate and drive a wedge between us and other Sharp facilities. We will continue to stand together to demand that health care professionals are compensated fairly and treated with the dignity and respect we deserve.
SCV Pros Virtual Town Hall
We will hold a Virtual Town Hall for SCV Professionals to ask questions and provide input.
Date: Tuesday, January 13, 2026
Time: 6:30 p.m.
Zoom Join Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81271276425
Solidarity Vigil and Rally Report Back
At the Solidarity Vigil and Rally on December 22, 2025, health care professionals joined registered nurses outside Sharp Spectrum to shine a light on patient care. Read this powerful piece featuring our bargaining team member Kimberly Vu: Sharp nurses hold vigil for fair contract, patient care (Fox 5 KUSI News).
Bargaining Update #12: December 19, 2025
We met with management on Thursday, December 18 and reached two Tentative Agreements:
• Article 9: Grievance and Arbitration Procedure, which establishes a clear process to address contract violations
• Article 19: Professional Liability Coverage, which protects health care professionals by providing insurance that helps safeguard workers’ licenses
We received Sharp’s economic counter and are in the process of analyzing the proposal in order to prepare our response. Our bargaining team is committed to securing the contract our unit members deserve.
Our next bargaining sessions are scheduled for January 7, January 12, and January 22 with the meeting location to be determined.
We hope to see everyone at Monday’s Solidarity Vigil and Rally at Sharp Spectrum, where we will be calling on management to protect patient care by investing in frontline professionals. We will gather at 4:30 p.m. and begin the program at 5 p.m.
Solidarity Vigil and Rally
Register here for the vigil and rally.
Bargaining Update #11: December 13, 2025
Progress for Pros: Productive Bargaining and Solidarity Action Ahead
We held a productive bargaining session with management on Friday, December 12. We gave Sharp two counter proposals:
• Article 7- Association Representation, which addresses Weingarten rights, access rights, bulletin spaces on units and future release for bargaining team members in future negotiations. We gave Sharp a signed Tentative Agreement (TA) on their 11/6/25 proposal.
• Article 8 – Corrective Action and Discipline
Sharp presented 8 counter proposals:
• Article 9- Grievance and Arbitration Procedure
• Article 12- Job Postings and Filling Vacancies
• Article 14- Hours of Work and Overtime
• Article 17- Leaves of Absence
• Article 18- Health, Dental and Insurance Plans
• Article 23- Full Negotiations, Complete Agreement and Waiver
• Article 24- Retirement Plans
• Article 26- Association Leave of Absence and Access Rights
While we are encouraged by the passing of proposals across the table, we also know that demonstrating our unity will be key to winning a fair agreement. On Friday, we presented a 10-day notice to Sharp to hold a vigil and rally. We will be uniting with the Sharp nurses to show our power by candlelight at the Solidarity Vigil and Rally at Sharp Spectrum on December 22, 2025. We will gather at 4:30 p.m. and begin the program at 5 p.m.
We look forward to our next bargaining session on December 18, 2025, when Sharp plans to give us an economic proposal.
Solidarity Vigil and Rally
Our unity is our power and we will continue to fight for a fair and just contract for SCV Health Care Pros. Register here for the vigil and rally.
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