National Nurses United

J U LY | A U G U S T | S E P T E M B E R 2 0 2 1 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 9 NATIONAL O ver the past few months, about 10,000 HCA nurses have ratified 18 contracts for facilities in Florida, Texas, Kansas, Missouri, Nevada, and North Carolina (See page 5 for details on North Carolina nurses' first contract). These National Nurses Organizing Committee nurses overwhelm- ingly approved new three-year agreements that include important improvements in health and safety protections for nurses and patients and other substantial gains. The new contracts also include provisions for new RN committees to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion on race, gender, age, and sexual orientation in hospital recruit- ment, retention, promotion, and training. These committees will also address issues of structural racism in the nursing profession and barriers to practice in ensuring a nursing workforce that is reflective of the community. In July, Florida nurses at 10 HCA facili- ties ratified contracts at Blake Medical Center in Bradenton, Central Florida Regional Hospital in Sanford, Doctors Hos- pital of Sarasota, Fawcett Memorial Hospital in Port Charlotte, Largo Medical Center, Medical Center of Trinity, Northside Hospital in St. Petersburg, Oak Hill Hospi- tal in Brooksville, Osceola Regional Medical Center in Kissimmee, and St. Petersburg General Hospital. "This is a strong agreement that will improve protections and conditions for our patients, and our communities, as well as enhance standards for the nurses," said Osceola RN Marissa Lee, who is also a board member of National Nurses Organiz- ing Committee/National Nurses United, which represents the Florida RNs. Among highlights of the new agreement are improvements in health and safety pro- tections for patients and nurses, especially with the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic; new language to promote diversity and equity at the hospitals; protection of existing health coverage with no cuts; and enhanced eco- nomic security for the RNs that will assist with retention of experienced RNs and recruitment of new nurses. All Florida RNs will earn pay increases of at least 2 percent in the first year and up to 19 percent over the three-year pact, depend- ing on length-of-service pay scales and specialty clinical expertise, as well as addi- tional compensation for nurses when needed for critical staffing shortages and when called in for needed extra shifts. In August, Texas nurses at the following facilities approved their contracts with HCA: Del Sol Medical Center and Las Pal- mas Medical Center in El Paso, Corpus Christi Medical Center Valley in Corpus Christi, and Regional Medical Center in Brownsville. "This is a very solid contract that addresses significant health and safety pro- tections for nurses and our patients," said Las Palmas RN Juan Anchondo. "These pro- tections have been a very high priority following the pandemic crisis our nurses and our community have gone through over the past year." All Del Sol and Las Palmas RNs will receive wage increases of up to 19 percent over the life of the agreement, along with increases for nurses working weekend shifts. The contract also limits changes that would increase nurses' costs for health coverage and retirement plans. "Nurses are very pleased to be locking in strong new contract protections at another highly concerning time when cases are ris- ing," said Corpus Christi RN Kim Smith. "This important agreement will provide additional security for our frontline nurses and our patients." Under the agreements for Corpus Christi and Valley Regional nurses, all full- and part-time RNs will earn up to 16 percent pay increases over the three-year term of the contract. The pact also limits any employer changes to the nurses' health care coverage and retirement plans. Also in August, NNOC nurses in the Kansas City area approved new contracts that will provide significant improvements in infectious disease control measures. The RNs work at Research Medical Center/Research Psychiatric Center in Kansas City, Mo. and Menorah Medical Center in Overland Park, Kansas. "For a year and a half, our nurses have repeatedly voiced concerns with manage- ment about ensuring the highest safety precautions for our patients, our colleagues, and our families in the face of this once-in- a-century pandemic," said Research RN Cheryl Rodarmel, who is also a member of the RN negotiating team. "These new con- tract provisions are a substantial step forward that will benefit the entire hospital, and the patients and community who count on us." The new contracts also provide increased economic security for the RNs. Nurses will receive wage increases of up to 19 percent over the three years of the agreements, safe- guards on their retirement plan, and strong limitations on changes to health coverage for nurses and their families. In September, Nevada nurses at Mountain- View Hospital in Las Vegas overwhelmingly approved their new contract. "We are pleased to have achieved additional health and safety protections that we have been pressing for from HCA management," said MountainView RN Nicole Taylor, a member of the nurses' negotiating team. "These pro- tections are essential to ensure safer conditions at our hospital." Nurses will receive wage increases of up to 19 percent over the term of the contract, plus increases for nurses who work week- ends or when critical additional staffing is needed, and protection on health care cover- age and subsidized dental care benefits for nurses and their families. —Staff report RNs at 18 HCA facilities approve new contracts

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