Contra Costa County nurses plan picket over patient services, staffing

Registered nurses with Contra Costa Health and Contra Costa Regional Medical Center in Martinez, California, are planning an informational picket on Thursday, June 25, to protest what they describe as the county’s failure to commit to preserving patient care and nursing staff, according to California Nurses Association/National Nurses United.

The nurses say they want a written agreement that would protect their jobs, seniority and benefits if any facilities or service lines are sold. While the Board of Supervisors has said it does not intend to sell off service lines or facilities, nurses say they do not have the guarantees they are seeking. They say the absence of those protections could prompt experienced nurses to leave in search of more stable employment, a move they believe would weaken the health system and affect the community it serves.

Contra Costa Health said in an April budget report that funding losses tied to the Republican-passed H.R. 1 would require “reducing services” and “potential staff reductions.” County officials have also said the Trump administration’s cuts to health care from H.R. 1 could affect as many as 93,000 Contra Costa County residents by 2029, according to the county. Nurses are urging the Board of Supervisors to use the county’s rainy day fund to support Contra Costa Health and preserve services and staffing. County records show the fund has more than $500 million.

“Nurses are working with increased patient loads and often without breaks or lunches to make sure our patients get the best care possible,” said Robin Hargrave, RN at Contra Costa Regional Medical Center. She said nurses are committed to patients and to Contra Costa Health’s mission to care for the most vulnerable people in the community, but added that without a written guarantee from the health system, experienced nurses could be lost. Hargrave said the loss of that experience would affect the broader patient community.

The picket is scheduled for 2 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. at Contra Costa Regional Medical Center, 2500 Alhambra Ave., Martinez, California 94553. CNA/NNU said the action is intended to reverse what it calls dangerous cuts to patient care.

The union said nurses are also fighting to maintain the stability of the system as the county looks to reduce staffing. Shannon Turner, NP at Pittsburg Health Center, said nurses fear that if the system becomes overloaded and jobs feel at risk, the county will have trouble retaining and recruiting experienced nurses. Turner said leadership needs to work with nurses to protect Contra Costa Health and patients.

CNA represents more than 1,300 registered nurses in the Contra Costa Health system. Nurses have been in contract negotiations since July 2025.

California Nurses Association/National Nurses United describes itself as the largest and fastest-growing union and professional association of registered nurses in the nation, with more than 100,000 members in more than 200 facilities throughout California and more than 225,000 RNs nationwide.