WASHINGTON
Thompson attends White House ceremony on passage of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act
On Monday, Chair of the House Gun Violence Prevention Task Force Rep. Mike Thompson (D-St. Helena) attended a ceremony at the White House celebrating the passage of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, the gun violence prevention law that Congress passed, and President Biden signed into law.
“Gun violence devastates our communities and traumatizes every American,” said Thompson. “Today’s event at the White House is a culmination of years of work that’s resulted in the first substantial gun violence prevention bill signed into law in 30 years. This law is going to save lives, plain and simple. By investing in proven gun violence prevention strategies like community violence intervention, red flag laws, and cracking down on gun trafficking, we can help our communities reduce gun violence.
“While this law is an important step in the right direction, I know that we still have work to do to end gun violence, keep guns out of dangerous hands, and ensure every American can live a safe and healthy life. I am committed to working with my colleagues in Congress and all the survivors, advocates, and victims to deliver a future free from gun violence.”
The Bipartisan Safer Communities Act is designed to protect America’s children, keep our schools safe, and reduce the threat of violence across our country.
The law passed the Senate on June 23 by a vote of 65-33. The bill passed the House on June 24 by a vote of 234-193.
“Gun violence devastates our communities and traumatizes every American,” said Thompson. “Today’s event at the White House is a culmination of years of work that’s resulted in the first substantial gun violence prevention bill signed into law in 30 years. This law is going to save lives, plain and simple. By investing in proven gun violence prevention strategies like community violence intervention, red flag laws, and cracking down on gun trafficking, we can help our communities reduce gun violence.
“While this law is an important step in the right direction, I know that we still have work to do to end gun violence, keep guns out of dangerous hands, and ensure every American can live a safe and healthy life. I am committed to working with my colleagues in Congress and all the survivors, advocates, and victims to deliver a future free from gun violence.”
The Bipartisan Safer Communities Act is designed to protect America’s children, keep our schools safe, and reduce the threat of violence across our country.
The law passed the Senate on June 23 by a vote of 65-33. The bill passed the House on June 24 by a vote of 234-193. For more information on the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act visit https://mikethompson.house.gov/newsroom/press-releases/thompson-votes-for-bipartisan-safer-communities-act
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CALIFORNIA
University of California nurses ratify new contract covering all UC medical centers, clinics, and student health centers
Registered nurses at University of California (UC) facilities across the state voted overwhelmingly in favor of ratifying a new three-year contract, California Nurses Association/National Nurses United (CNA/NNU) has announced.
This contract reflects the successful effort of CNA and the University to reach a successor agreement that recognizes the service and sacrifice of nurses during this moment, when both parties committed to engaging in a professional process that resulted in this historic settlement. The new agreement addresses key patient care and workplace safety issues while focusing resources to recognize, recruit, and retain nurses across facilities in the UC system.
“UC nurses are proud to ratify our new contract with the University,” said Dahlia Tayag, an RN and bargaining team member who works at UC San Diego. “This agreement recognizes and rewards registered nurses for our service and commitment to our patients and communities across the UC system, especially during the Covid-19 pandemic.”
“UC nurses have been preparing for these negotiations and we were committed to winning the contract our members deserved,” continued Tayag. “The administration’s decision to prioritize investing in UC nurses resulted in this successor agreement, which will improve the patient care we provide.”
Highlights of the contract include:
- Victories around key issues: Improvements to patient care, workplace safety, and union rights, including protections from potential subcontracting of RN work. The new agreement also creates two joint labor-management committees focused on key system-wide issues: one on Health, Safety, and Emerging Infectious Diseases and another on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.
- Benefits improvements, including eight weeks of fully paid Family Care and Bonding leave and Juneteenth recognized as a holiday.
- No takeaways to health care, pension, or any other benefits protected in our contract.
- Major economic improvements, including minimum across-the-board wage increases of 16 percent over the term of the agreement and additional increases for UC San Diego and UC Irvine, which reduce regional wage disparity across the UC system.
“Nurses have been leaders throughout this pandemic,” said Tayag, who is also a member of the CNA Board of Directors. “With our new union contract, we have made major improvements for patient care, workplace safety, and union rights. This sets a new standard for RN contracts in California and beyond.”
The new pact will expire in October 2025. CNA/NNU represents approximately 18,000 RNs, NPs, CRNAs and Transplant Coordinators across the University of California system. The new agreement covers nurses who work at UC San Diego, UC San Francisco, UC Davis, UC Irvine, UCLA, UC Merced, UC Berkeley, UC Santa Cruz, UC Santa Barbara, and UC Riverside.
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