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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 9 WRAP-UP REPORT California SALINAS VALLEY MEMORIAL HOSPITAL Registered nurses at Salinas Valley Memorial Hospital (SVMH) in Salinas overwhelmingly ratified a new five-year contract in Novem- ber. The agreement, which covers 700 nurs- es, is the result of a bargaining campaign that included a march on the SVMH board of directors meeting. "As a public hospital in the Salinas Valley, the patients we serve often come in with severe illnesses," said Sandra Martinez, an ICU RN at SVMH and member of the bargaining team. "Our patients rely on nurses to take good care of them so they can return back to their lives. I am proud to say that the contract agreement we have achieved will ensure that competent nurses live and work in this community and help our patients heal." Contract highlights include protections against unsafe floating, provisions for safe staffing, more opportuni- ties for educational development, and an 11.25 percent wage increase over five years. WASHINGTON HOSPITAL RNs at Washington Hospital in Fremont voted in November to ratify a four-year contract that includes provisions that nurses say will lead to improved patient care. "Nurs- es stood up for safe staffing standards by securing an agreement that promotes the training of qualified nurses in specialty areas," said Lizet Beltran, an oncology RN. "This agreement will enable us to retain our highly qualified nursing staff who take care of the community." Contract highlights include strengthening nurses' voices to improve patient care by increased participa- tion in the professional practice committee, improved staffing language for meal and rest breaks, incentives for educational opportuni- ties, and a wage increase of 11 percent over the term of the contract, which covers more than 800 nurses. Maine In October, registered nurses and hospital technicians at Northern Light Maine Coast Hospital in Ellsworth, Maine held a vigil to fight for patient safety and a fair contract. "We are fighting to protect our patients," said Joan Torrey, RN. "We need safe staffing in our emergency department and 24-hour security personnel to protect patients and staff. We are standing up for our patients in our contract negotiations because our community deserves the best care." "We medical technicians are also concerned about safe staffing in cardio- pulmonary, the lab, imaging, and surgical services," said Dave Evans, a medical techni- cian. "We are fighting for safe patient care." The registered nurses have been in contract negotiations since May. The techni- cians have been in first-contract negotia- tions since November 2017. —Staff report NEWS BRIEFS Clockwise from top left: RNs at Salinas Valley Memorial celebrate new contract; nurses at Wash- ington Hospital vote on new agreement; nurses and techs at Northern Light Maine Coast Hospital hold vigil for patient safety and fair contract.