USC Keck and Norris nurses ratify four-year contract, closing year-long fight

LOS ANGELES —

Registered nurses at Keck Hospital of USC and USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center voted on May 11 and 12 to ratify a four-year contract, the California Nurses Association said. The vote closes a year-long fight that began when negotiations opened in May 2025 and included a seven-day strike in February.

The bargaining unit covers roughly 1,110 RNs. The contract provides across-the-board wage increases of at least 15%, with additional raises tied to years of experience. Other provisions include continuing-education reimbursement, contract-rights protections for nurses reassigned between campus buildings, and patient-care language the union said addresses missed meal and rest breaks. CNA cited 2024 figures showing more than 10,000 missed meal breaks and 4,000 missed rest breaks across the two facilities.

A November tentative agreement collapsed when members rejected it. Nurses walked off the job for seven days starting February 19. Bargaining resumed in March.

Source: National Nurses United