Contracts & Bargaining
Bear Valley Registered Nurses Association – Bargaining updates (2025)
Bear Valley Bargaining Update #5: June 4, 2025
Closer to an Agreement
Yesterday’s bargaining was devoted to economic issues. We made progress around differential increases and better language on how we can use our PTO.
Both sides presented package proposals to wrap up all the wage and other economic issues with no final agreement yet reached. So we added another bargaining date for next Tuesday, June 10.
Lots of good hard work this week moved us closer to a full tentative contract.
Join Us at the Next Bargaining Session
It truly makes a difference when members come and show their support for the bargaining team. Family and four-legged friends are also welcome!
Date: Tuesday, June 10, 2025
Time: 10 a.m.
Location: Hampton Inn (41820 Big Bear Blvd.)
Light refreshments provided.
Bear Valley Bargaining Update #4: May 19, 2025
We Won Floating Language
For the first time, our Bear Valley contract will have floating language to protect RN licenses and Bear Valley patients. The new language, crafted by our president Grant Goebel, RN, and assisted by Olivia Guevara, our UNAC/UHCP staff rep and second chair negotiator—and agreed to by management in negotiations on Friday, May 16:
- Provides for adequate training when floating
- For rotational floating so that the same nurses are not floated all the time
- Calls for a majority of an RNs shifts to be worked in their home unit
Only three articles remain before we wrap up a whole tentative contract—all covering economic issues:
- Wages (Article 18)
- Hours and Overtime (Article 19)
- Paid Time Off (Article 20)
We have submitted our entire economic proposal to management and anticipate a full response at our next bargaining session on June 3.
Our proposal includes:
- Increases to our wage grid to maintain wage standards for our members
- Increases in shift differentials
- Codifying our float differential in the contract
A Visit from the President
Charmaine Morales, RN, UNAC/UHCP President, visited negotiations and our hospital on Friday, walking through all the units, with Grant, and talking to nurses.
And the Daisy Award Goes to…
This year’s Daisy Award was presented last week to Grant Goebel, RN, BVRNA President, for his effort during the recent fires to help a disable patient and his wife pack up their home and evacuate.
The ceremony took place at the Destination Big Bear Event Center in front of Grant’s friends, family, colleagues and hospital administration. Grant gave a speech, then the favorite snack of the award’s founder—cinnamon rolls—and a nice lunch were served.
Bear Valley Bargaining Update #3: May 5, 2025
On the Path towards a Strong Contract
Our bargaining team met with Bear Valley management on Monday, May 5 and reached two additional tentative agreements that:
- Won Front-Loaded Sick Days: We increased the number of sick days front-loaded at the beginning of every year from 3 days to 5 days to help nurses access the sick time they need, which also helps patient care.
- Achieved Greater Transparency in Probationary Period: We added language under the probationary period where the employer must disclose the reason for wanting to extend a staff’s probation.
We continue to make great progress in our contract negotiations. Our team is looking forward to submitting our economic package to management at our next bargaining session on May 16.
Join Us at the Next Bargaining Session
We were excited today that Holly Johnson from the Acute Department came to observe bargaining. It truly makes a difference when members come and show their support for the bargaining team. Family and four-legged friends are also welcome!
At our next session, we will also be joined by UNAC/UHCP President Charmaine S. Morales, RN.
Date: Friday, May 16, 2025
Time: 10 a.m.
Location: Hampton Inn (41820 Big Bear Blvd.)
Light refreshments provided.
Got a Question?
Come meet Olivia Guevara, our UNAC/UHCP Staff Representative, who will be in the cafeteria on Thursday, May 15, from 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. to answer any questions you may have about bargaining or our contract.
Bear Valley Bargaining Update #2: April 29, 2025
Tremendous progress so far
We’ve made great progress so far in negotiations toward our new contract. Both sides have shown up ready to bargain. Conversations have been positive and productive.
We made strong gains in tentative agreements won yesterday:
- Coverage says that RNs at any future facilities operated by Bear Valley Community Health Care District will be automatically covered under our contract if there duties are substantially the same.
- Bereavement Leave: Currently we have three days of paid bereavement. Yesterday, we won an additional two days unpaid. One of the unpaid days will be converted to paid for each 1,000 miles traveled to attend a funeral, to a maximum of five total days paid bereavement leave.
- Added Skelly protections allow for timely investigation while protecting our right to representation by giving 15 days to set up the meeting.
Overall, we’ve signed 30 tentative agreements so far out of an expected 37 total.
Our team is developing a proposal on floating which we expect to submit during our next bargaining session on Monday, May 5.
Come see Olivia in the cafeteria on May 15
Our UNAC/UHCP Staff Rep Olivia Guevara will be in the cafeteria on Thursday, May 15, from 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. to answer questions about negotiations. Stop by!
Bear Valley Bargaining Update #1: April 4, 2025
A Great First Day of Bargaining
We’re proud to announce that on our very first day of bargaining, Friday, March 28, we reached tentative agreements on 20 contract articles!
Two of them include substantial language improvements that enhance protections for patient care, our community, and our nursing profession.
UNAC/UHCP President Charmaine Morales, RN, to Join Us on May 16
Upcoming bargaining dates:
Monday, April 28
Monday, May 5
Friday, May 16*
Hampton Inn
41820 Big Bear Blvd.
10 a.m.
Light refreshments provided
* We’re honored to welcome Charmaine Morales, RN, UNAC/UHCP President as our guest on May 16.
All are welcome to attend every bargaining session. Bring your family and even your four-legged friends!
Your presence and support make a difference. We look forward to seeing you there!