California Nurses Association

The California Nurses Association's anti-McCain/Palin ad.

A new Field Poll shows that the California Nurses Association has strong credibility among voters on health care issues, but those surveyed also prefer Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s health care plan, which the CNA recently helped defeat.

An unsuccessful union drive of nurses in Ohio has pitted the politically influential Service Employees International Union against the California Nurses Association.

In Oakland this week, an Alameda County Superior Court commissioner lifted an order against SEIU officials accused by CNA of harassing and stalking CNA organizers. Court commissioner Jon Rantzman wrote the temporary restraining order against SEIU last week after Oakland-based CNA claimed that SEIU members were threatening their members at home and work.

Nurses on strike at eight Bay Area hospitals are wrapping up their ten-day action as their union makes plans to support two Democrats vying for open state seats in moderate Republican districts.

The California Nurses Association has had 4,000 of their 80,000 members picketing the Sutter Health medical facilities since March 21. This is CNA’s third strike against Sutter since November and it ends Sunday. The CNA is known for aggressive public actions like this and over the years it also has protested Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger when he’s appeared at various women or health-related events, loudly promoting bills he has opposed such as single-payer health care.

This year the nurses union also is backing two Democrats vying for open seats which are being vacated by Republicans.