Issue link: https://nnumagazine.uberflip.com/i/1419101
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 11 NATIONAL I n september, registered nurses at 29 facilities ratified a four-year master agreement with Dignity Health as well as their local facility contracts. The master contract covers more than 14,000 RN members in California and Nevada, rep- resented by California Nurses Association/ National Nurses Organizing Committee. The pact features stronger infectious dis- ease prevention measures for nurses and patients. "As we face yet another surge of Covid-19 patients filling up our hospitals, we are proud to have achieved additional health and safety protections for our RNs and patients," said CNA/NNOC President Sandy Reding, RN negotiator. "We are hopeful that with the greater economic and health care gains we can recruit new nurses and retain experienced RNs to better protect our patients' safety," said Kathy Dennis, RN negotiator and CNA/NNOC board member. Agreement highlights include health and safety provisions to ensure nurses get the highest level of personal protective equipment, including when caring for patients suspected of having Covid; nurse participation in the Pandemic Task Force; comprehensive workplace violence preven- tion; increased tuition reimbursement for education so nurses can continue expand- ing their knowledge and skills; and equity and inclusion provisions, such as an agree- ment to fight racial injustice and health care disparities within the community and a commitment to a workplace free from racism. The contracts also include a 13.5 percent wage increase over four years and no takeaways for pensions or retiree health. Dignity Health also agreed with the union that health care is a human right and that everyone should have access to quality health care; that we must end racial and ethnic disparities in health care outcomes, and promote the delivery of cul- turally competent care and the diversity of our health care work force; and have a commitment to the community. —Chuleenan Svetvilas CALIFORNIA R egistered nurses at Doctors Hospital of Manteca are the newest members of the California Nurses Association (CNA) after voting by a 94 percent margin for union rep- resentation. The mail-in ballots were counted at the end of September in an elec- tion conducted by the National Labor Relations Board. By a 121-8 vote, CNA will now represent 200 RNs at Doctors Hospital of Manteca, which is part of the Tenet Healthcare sys- tem. Overall, NNU represents 5,500 Tenet RNs at 14 Tenet hospitals in California, Ari- zona, and Texas. Nurses were motivated to form a union due to the loss of many colleagues to neighbor- ing union hospitals because of eroding patient care conditions, especially as conditions wors- ened during the latest Covid-19 surge, and the opportunity for better economic standards. "It's a new day for Doctors' nurses, patients, and our entire community," said Doctors Hospital RN Kamal Kaur. "We are thrilled to join with our Tenet RN sisters, brothers, and colleagues at other facilities who have achieved important gains and continue to work to set new standards for all Tenet RNs." "We are so proud of our RN colleagues at Doctors Hospital," said CNA President Cathy Kennedy, RN. "In joining together with the 100,000 other CNA members across California, you have taken a bold and dramatic step to strengthen protec- tions for your patients, your families, your coworkers, and all Californians." —Charles Idelson Dignity Health nurses ratify four-year master contract Manteca RNs vote by 94 percent to unionize