National Nurses United

12 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 2 0 WRAP-UP REPORT California the alameda county Board of Supervi- sors Oct. 20 voted overwhelmingly to accept the resignation of the Alameda Health Sys- tem's Board of Trustees after registered nurses represented by California Nurses Association demanded the dissolution of the board during a five-day strike earlier in the month. "This is a great step in the right direction," said Lisa LaFave, a registered nurse at San Leandro Hospital. "We look for- ward to sitting down at the table with newly appointed negotiators in order to ensure our patients can get the care they need and deserve." Alameda Health System (AHS) is made up of three hospitals: San Leandro Hospital, Alameda Hospital, and Highland Hospital in Oakland. CNA represents nurses at both San Lean- dro Hospital and Alameda Hospital. The nurses at San Leandro Hospital and Alameda Hospital held a five-day strike in October, and a one-day strike last fall in an effort to secure a contract that addresses the patient safety needs of the community. The nurses at the two hospitals have been in contract negotiations for nearly two years and have accused AHS of bargaining in bad faith. Nurses want to ensure that patient safety issues are addressed in their new con- tract, among which are chronic short staffing that results in delayed care and puts patient safety at risk, concerns over access to personal protective equipment during the Covid-19 pandemic, and retaliatory and punitive actions directed at nurses who advocate for changes in their facilities. "We hope this important change paves the way for a true dialogue with the nurses that takes into account their expertise and their commitment to provide care on the frontlines of this pandemic," said Linda Strack, a registered nurse at Alameda Hos- pital. —Rachel Berger Maine in november, registered nurses and med- ical laboratory scientists at Calais Regional Hospital (CRH) ratified a new contract with hospital administration. Highlights of the new agreement include pay increases and continued protections for core benefits. The contract follows a strike authoriza- tion vote by the employees and an announcement that they would hold a two- day strike. "This was a hard fight over more than two years. We know our hospital is struggling, but we had to make sure that we protected conditions for the people who keep it run- ning every day," said Anne Sluzenski, RN and member of the union's bargaining team. "We're glad that management finally worked with us to reach an agreement that protected our benefits, and helped the hospital retain and recruit employees." "Our membership has been through a lot the past couple of years. They have fought hard and have really stuck together. Our decision to vote for a strike was a difficult one to make," said Shirley Richardson, a reg- istered nurse at CRH. "But in the end, we are glad the hospital finally met us half-way and now we can move forward with a new agree- ment and new security for our membership." The CRH employees are members of the Maine State Nurses Association, which is affiliated with National Nurses Organizing Committee and National Nurses United. —Staff report From top: One of the main demands of a five-day strike in October by Alameda Health System nurses was granted when the county board voted to oust the system's trustees; Calais Regional Hospital nurses and medical laboratory scientists celebrated ratification of a new contract in November. NEWS BRIEFS

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