Nurses Vote to Unionize at Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula
- Nurses at Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula have voted to unionize with the California Nurses Association.
- Over 800 nurses will join CNA.
- Nurses report staffing concerns impacting patient safety, nurses' well-being, and workplace violence as motivating factors to vote to unionize.
As nurses across the country are striking in favor of higher wages, better working conditions, and safer patient-to-nurse ratios, the registered nurses at Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula (CHOMP) have voted to unionize with the California Nurses Association (CNA).
This marks a major shift in how nurses at the Monterey Peninsula’s largest hospital will advocate for patient care and workplace conditions.
How the vote unfolded
Nearly 500 nurses cast ballots in the secret-ballot election conducted by the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), with an overwhelming majority voting to join the CNA, an affiliate of National Nurses United (NNU). The election concluded on January 30th, 2026, and while formal NLRB certification is still pending, both CNA and hospital officials acknowledge that the outcome favors union representation.
Once certified, CNA will represent approximately 800 registered nurses at CHOMP, covering a wide range of units and specialties.
Nurses and union representatives framed the vote as a watershed moment for the Monterey Peninsula community, arguing that a union will give bedside nurses a stronger voice in decisions that affect patient care.
Why nurses organized
Nurses say the drive to unionize grew out of persistent concerns about short staffing and its impact on patient safety and nurse well-being. They report that staffing gaps limit the time spent with each patient. Nurses are often left without proper coverage for state‑mandated breaks during 12‑hour shifts, forcing some to skip meals or hand patients off to colleagues who already have full assignments.
Another major concern is access to food for patients during evening hours. Nurses say the hospital cafeteria’s closure in the evening leaves patients without hot meal options, and some nurses have resorted to ordering patients' food and paying for it themselves.
“I am thrilled we will be able to start bargaining on the things that matter most, like patient care, safe staffing, and workplace violence prevention policies,” said Kristine Olalia, an RN in the orthopedic unit.
Money, management, and union power
CNA contends that CHOMP has the financial capacity to address staffing and patient care concerns raised by nurses. The union notes that hospital financial records show that between 2020 and 2024, CHOMP spent more than $31 million in compensation for its top six executives, including about $11 million to the former president and CEO Steven Packer. Union leaders say those figures underscore their argument that resources exist but have not been directed toward frontline care and staffing.
“Montage Health respects the outcome of the vote and the voices of our nurses at Community Hospital,” said Monica Sciuto, public information officer for Montage Health. “We honor their decision and will work within the new framework to maintain our shared commitment to exceptional patient care and a positive work environment.”
What happens next
With the vote complete, nurses will now elect a bargaining team to represent them at the negotiating table. That team will work with CNA staff to develop contract proposals on issues such as staffing ratios, break protections, workplace violence prevention, and patient safety safeguards—many of the same concerns that fueled the organizing drive.
Once elected, the bargaining team and hospital management will begin negotiations toward a first collective bargaining agreement, a process that can take months and often involves intensive talks over scheduling, staffing standards, pay scales, benefits, and grievance procedures. Nurses are publicly calling on CHOMP and Montage Health to respect the results of the election and engage in good‑faith bargaining.
Local and statewide context
CNA already represents nurses at multiple hospitals across California, including:
- Salinas Valley Health
- Natividad Medical Center
- Watsonville Community Hospital
- Dominican Hospital
- Hazel Hawkins Memorial Hospital
- Mee Memorial
Union leaders say CHOMP nurses are joining a growing cohort of California RNs who view union representation as key to improving staffing, retaining experienced nurses, and strengthening their voice in hospital policy.
For patients and the broader Monterey Peninsula community, nurses and CNA argue that the new union could translate into more stable staffing, safer working conditions, and stronger protections for care quality over the long term, once a first contract is in place.
🤔Nurses, what do you think? Share your thoughts in the forum below.
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