Nurses say California labor law should apply to them

Although the California labor code allows employees to organize into unions, nurses in the state are arguing that lawmakers need to ensure they have the ability to freely exercise their right to form protective associations.

Some 1,200 registered nurses recently descended on Senator Dianne Feinstein's office in San Francisco, each leaving a rose and a note describing their intimidation at trying to organize under California labor law and those of other states, saying that nurses have been left out of protections offered to other workers.

It is one of the first major actions of National Nurses United, a union formed in August by the California Nurses Association, United American Nurses and other more localized unions.

"Just think about all the management heads that turned grey when they heard what we are doing," said registered nurse Sandra Falwell, director of the United American Nurses, at the organization's founding. "I'm glad I've lived long enough to see this happen and know what a great legacy this would be to pass on."

Now the nurses hope that Feinstein will support legislation that would extend provisions in the California labor code to their profession.