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CALIFORNIA R egistered nurses at eight Tenet hospitals across California voted overwhelmingly in November to approve a new master contract agreement that covers 4,000 RNs. "We are very proud of what we've achieved with this new contract. It is a testament to what registered nurses can accomplish collectively when we stand together as committed patient advocates," said Ginny Gary, an RN in the ICU/CCU at Los Alamitos Medical Center. "This new agreement is a win for the nurses and our patients, for our families, and for the communities we serve across the state." The new pact contains a number of provi- sions that will enhance the recruitment and retention of RNs and addresses issues raised by nurses in a number of collective actions over the past year, including a one-day strike in September. The agreement assures that nurses will receive at least an eight-hour rest period between shifts, and adequate rest and meal breaks. It also stipulates that "standby/on-call" scheduling is intended to cover unexpected and emergent patient care needs, and not as a substitute for regular scheduling. "As nurses we are dedicated to providing optimal care for our patients and we fought hard for a contract that supports that goal," said Heather Baker, an RN in the direct observation unit at Twin Cities Community Hospital. "This agreement will strengthen our hospitals' ability to recruit and retain staff and make our hospi- tals great places for our patients to get well." Other highlights of the contract include: Hours of work, overtime and scheduling: The employer must include break relief in the staffing plan for each unit to assure that RNs receive adequate rest and meal breaks, and that appropriate nurse-to-patient ratios are maintained. The employer must post "on-call" schedules 13 days in advance and may not change them without consent of the affected RN. Health and safety: RNs and Professional Practice Committee (PPC) members will participate in a review of unit-specific work- place violence prevention plans to assure robust RN input in the implementation of California Nurses Association-sponsored, state-mandated violence prevention stan- dards for health care facilities. Economic gains to retain experienced nurses: Average wage increases of 13.5 percent in the first year and a half, wage scale increases of 3 percent each year, step increases for eligible RNs, and increases in standby/on-call pay. Healthcare: All health plans maintained. Recognition: Hi-Desert Medical Center and Emanuel Medical Center will now be covered by the master contract agreement. The contract covers the following facili- ties: Hi-Desert Medical Center in Joshua Tree, Los Alamitos Medical Center in Los Alamitos, Doctors Medical Center of Modesto in Modesto, Desert Regional Medical Center in Palm Springs, Sierra Vista Regional Medical Center in San Luis Obispo, San Ramon Regional Medical Center in San Ramon, Twin Cities Community Hospital in Templeton, and Emanuel Medical Center in Turlock. —Martha Wallner 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 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 N A T I O N A L N U R S E 5 California Tenet RNs approve new master contract