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14 N A T I O N A L N U R S E W W W . N A T I O N A L N U R S E S U N I T E D . O R G O C T O B E R | N O V E M B E R | D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 8 WRAP-UP REPORT California ALHAMBRA HOSPITAL MEDICAL CENTER registered nurses at Alhambra Hospital Medical Center in Alhambra, Calif. celebrat- ed in October the ratification of their first collective bargaining agreement, which RNs say will greatly improve patient care and working conditions. "I feel very good about all that we have accomplished in bringing a union to our hospital and to win this contract that will help bring the highest level of care to patients," said Ana Vasquez, a registered nurse who has worked at AHMC since 1999. The average wage increase amounts to 15 percent in the first year of the contract, and 28 percent over the entire three-year term, which will help with nurse recruitment and retention, a longtime prob- lem at the hospital. "It's unbelievable, I love this hospital and I love the people I work with and now we have an opportunity to attract experienced nurses and keep them on the job," said Farah Gerami, an emergency room registered nurse who has worked at Alhambra for almost 18 years. CONTRA COSTA COUNTY contra costa county registered nurses, nurse practitioners, and public health nurses ratified in late October a new three- year contract that supports patient safety, safe staffing, and overall better working conditions at county facilities. "We are thrilled that our nurses stood strong to win this important agreement that strengthens care conditions for our patients, who are some of the most vulnerable patients in Contra Costa County," said Kathleen Sulli- van, a public health nurse with the county for 11 years, noting that with the 2015 closure of Doctors Medical Center in San Pablo, Contra Costa County Medical Center has become the main care source for the local community. Contract high- lights include wage increases of 20 percent over three years that should establish better parity with area hospitals to increase nurse retention; safe staffing provisions, protected health care and retirement; and workplace violence prevention language in line with California law, among other gains. HI-DESERT MEDICAL CENTER in november, registered nurses at Hi- Desert Medical Center in Joshua Tree, Calif. celebrated ratification of their first contract with the California Nurses Association/ National Nurses United. The pact, covering 105 registered nurses at the hospital, features patient care and wage and benefit improvements through 2021 and brings the nurses under the umbrella of a statewide contract between CNA and the hospital's parent company, Tenet Healthcare. "Nurses know that when we stand up together, using our collective voice, that is the most powerful way to advocate for our patients' health and safety, and for the work- ing conditions that allow us to provide qual- ity care," said medical-surgical RN Michelle DeLuna. Joining the master contract also brings Hi-Desert nurses up to the wage and benefit standards of other CNA-represented Tenet hospitals, and provides patient care provi- sions and mechanisms equal to those nego- tiated in other CNA agreements. The CNA/Tenet California master agreement covers approximately 3,500 nurses at seven Tenet hospitals throughout California. The agreement expires at the end of this year. Nurses look forward to joining their colleagues from across the state at the table when negotiations begin again. "Our nurses stood strong together to win this first contract," said emergency room RN Jorge Miranda. "This is a big day and a big win for the whole community." SAN JOAQUIN GENERAL HOSPITAL rns at San Joaquin General Hospital and throughout the San Joaquin County Health Service Agency in August celebrated a new contract covering some 600 nurses that will improve patient care and provide economic gains to retain experienced nurses. The RNs won language guaranteeing meal and rest breaks, improvement and expansion of their professional practice committee, better staffing language, among other provisions. —Staff report NEWS BRIEFS From top: Nurses at Alhambra Hospital Medical Center were jubilant after ratifying their first contract; RNs at San Joaquin General Hospital and who work for San Joaquin Health Service Agency celebrated a new contract.