CNA
The California Nurses Association (CNA) began as a state chapter of the American Nurses Association (ANA). In 1995, members broke away to form their own union and later created other health care unions, including:
- The National Nurses Organizing Committee (NNOC)
- National Nurses United (NNU)
- National Union of Healthcare Workers (NUHW)
What It Means to be a CNA Member
CNA members are expected to abide by the rules and regulations of the CNA bylaws.
At least some CNA members aren’t happy with the union’s representation, 121 unfair labor practice (ULPs) charges have been filed against the union since 2014, according to Bloomberg BNA.
Learn More about the CNA
The last several decades have been a time of steady stagnation for union membership in the healthcare industry. Just 6.9% of healthcare and social assistance industry workers belonged to a union in 2023. And no growth over multiple decades, during a time when all other costs have increased? That spells trouble for any union.
Source: Bloomberg BNA
Because of this decline, unions are trying harder than ever to gain new dues-paying members. Union organizing teams and in-house employee organizers have been known to use nursing concerns such as patient care and staffing ratios just to get their foot in the door. Once there, they may make highly persuasive and unrealistic promises with no guarantees all in an effort to gain new members.
New Members?
Since 2014, unions have filed 19,122 petitions for election with the National Labor Relations Board – but were barely able to win even half of these elections.
Source: Bloomberg BNA
Unsatisfied Customers
Rather than adding new members, unions have been involved in 3,162 decertification petitions since 2014, where union members decide whether to kick out the union. Unions were only able to win 19% of the decertification petitions filed.
Source: Bloomberg BNA
The CNA is by no means a simple organization. It’s a big business, surviving on dues and fees of hardworking members. The CNA is required by law to file a document called an LM-2 Report with the federal government each year, describing where they received money and how it was spent.
See the latest CNA LM-2 Report
The CNA’s LM-2 Report states they collected more than $238 million in cash receipts last year, yet spent roughly $219 million.
So, where’s the money going?
The chart below breaks down how the CNA spent $219,526,564.
*Other: Contributions, Gifts and Grants; Loans Made; Strike Benefits; Fines, Fees, Assessments; Strikes for Resale; Purchase of Investments and Fixed Assets; Repayment of Loans Obtained; To Affiliates of Funds Collected on Their Behalf; On Behalf of Individual Members; Withheld, but Not Disbursed.
A large portion of the money collected by the CNA is used to pay the salaries and expenses of the CNA’s union bosses. In total, the CNA paid more than $36 million in salaries and expenses for its union bosses, officers and employees of the union.
Source for all figures: 2024 CNA LM-2 Report
Since 2014, the CNA has been involved in 26 strikes, affecting more than 113,000 of the union’s members.
CNA Work Stoppages | ||
Year | # of Strikes | # of Workers Affected |
2014 | 5 | 1,448 |
2015 | 3 | 3,020 |
| 2016 | 2 | 2,500 |
| 2018 | 3 | 54,640 |
| 2019 | 3 | 360 |
2020 | 2 | 1,220 |
| 2021 | 4 | 41,655 |
2022 | 4 | 9,100 |
Totals | 26 | 113,943 |
Years not shown had no work stoppages. Source: Bloomberg BNA
Source: Bloomberg BNA
Because of this decline, unions are trying harder than ever to gain new dues-paying members. Union organizing teams and in-house employee organizers have been known to use nursing concerns such as patient care and staffing ratios just to get their foot in the door. Once there, they may make highly persuasive and unrealistic promises with no guarantees all in an effort to gain new members. New Members? Since 2014, unions have filed 19,122 petitions for election with the National Labor Relations Board – but were barely able to win even half of these elections.
Source: Bloomberg BNA
Unsatisfied Customers Rather than adding new members, unions have been involved in 3,162 decertification petitions since 2014, where union members decide whether to kick out the union. Unions were only able to win 19% of the decertification petitions filed.
Source: Bloomberg BNA
*Other: Contributions, Gifts and Grants; Per Capita Tax; Loans Made; Strike Benefits; Fines, Fees, Assessments; Strikes for Resale; Purchase of Investments and Fixed Assets; Repayment of Loans Obtained; To Affiliates of Funds Collected on Their Behalf; On Behalf of Individual Members; Withheld, but Not Disbursed.
A large portion of the money collected by the CNA is used to pay the salaries and expenses of the CNA’s union bosses. In total, the CNA paid more than $32 million in salaries and expenses for its union bosses, officers and employees of the union.
Source for all figures: 2023 CNA LM-2 Report
Since 2014, the CNA has been involved in 26 strikes, affecting more than 113,000 of the union’s members.
CNA Work Stoppages | ||
Year | # of Strikes | # of Workers Affected |
2014 | 5 | 1,448 |
2015 | 3 | 3,020 |
| 2016 | 2 | 2,500 |
| 2018 | 3 | 54,640 |
| 2019 | 3 | 360 |
2020 | 2 | 1,220 |
| 2021 | 4 | 41,655 |
2022 | 4 | 9,100 |
Totals | 26 | 113,943 |
Years not shown had no work stoppages. Source: Bloomberg BNA
