UC nurses and staff tell regents staffing, contract and payroll problems are harming patients

At a public comment session at the University of California Board of Regents Health Services Committee, nurses, union representatives and frontline staff described staffing shortages, contract disputes and payroll errors they say are harming patient care across UC medical centers.

Speakers urged UC leadership to resolve ongoing bargaining disputes, restore stable staffing, fix the MyTime payroll system and reverse staffing practices that place nurses unfamiliar with specialty units into high-acuity care. The speakers said those changes are urgent to protect patients and staff safety.

"The transition in July was a complete disaster, and nurses are continuing to experience harm due to the university's lack of transparency," said Ina Gage, an RN, chief nurse representative at Children's Hospital Oakland and a member of this year's UC bargaining team representing 25,000 nurses statewide. "Many nurses have also been without a…