California Nurses Union Sues to Block Trump Administration Interference with UC System
On September 16th,the california Nurses Association (CNA),alongside other labor unions representing University of California (UC) workers,filed a lawsuit challenging what they describe as coercive attempts by the Trump administration to reshape the UC system according to the president’s political agenda. CNA represents 25,000 registered nurses across UC medical centers in California.
The lawsuit alleges the federal government is illegally pressuring the UC to engage in specific speech and behaviors, violating the First Amendment. The unions are responding to threats of unlawful federal funding cuts used to enforce these demands.
Nurses within the CNA expressed particular concern over potential agreements that could force cooperation with Immigration and Customs enforcement (ICE), perhaps granting ICE access to UC hospitals. They also voiced opposition to any efforts targeting gender-inclusive policies, including potential threats to gender-affirming care for minors.
“As union nurses, we always speak up when our patients are needlessly and senselessly prevented from receiving the care they need,” stated Maureen Dugan, RN at UCSF Parnassus and a member of the CNA Board of Directors. “We refuse to stand by as the Trump administration attempts to tell UC nurses how to provide care for our patients or tries to make our hospitals unsafe for our patients!”
Dugan further emphasized the broader impact of potential funding cuts, stating they would jeopardize the ability of UC nurses to provide care to all Californians and undermine the UC system’s role as a major economic driver in the state. She characterized the administration’s actions as a power grab rather than a genuine effort to improve the lives of working people.
The lawsuit represents a broad coalition of labor organizations,including the American association of University Professors (AAUP),which is leading the effort.Other participating unions include the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) UC-AFT Local 1474; the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 399; the Council of UC Faculty Associations (CUCFA); and faculty associations from each UC campus (UC Berkeley, Davis, Irvine, Los Angeles, Merced, Riverside, San diego, San Francisco, Santa Barbara, and Santa Cruz). also joining the suit are the University Professional and Technical Employees-Communications Workers of America (UPTE-CWA) Local 9119; the International Union, United Automobile, Aerospace and Agricultural Implement Workers of America (UAW) UAW Local 4811; and the International Brotherhood of Teamsters (IBT) Local 2010.
The California Nurses Association/National Nurses United (CNA/NNU) is the largest union and professional association of registered nurses in the nation, representing over 100,000 members in California and more than 225,000 RNs nationwide.
