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10 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 J A N U A R Y | F E B R U A R Y | M A R C H 2 0 2 2 WRAP-UP REPORT California ALHAMBRA HOSPITAL MEDICAL CENTER In February, registered nurses at Alhambra Hospital Medical Center in Los Angeles, Calif., voted overwhelmingly in favor of ratify- ing a new three-year contract, winning protections to improve patient safety and nurse retention. The agreement was the result of an almost six-month fight, including an informational picket and multiple other actions. CNA represents more than 150 regis- tered nurses at the facility. Contract highlights include provisions for ensuring hospital com- pliance with existing RN-to-patient safe staffing laws, a new infectious disease task force, expansion of workplace violence pre- vention plans, proper orientation when RNs are floated to new hospital units, and substan- tial pay increases over the contract's term. KPC FACILITIES IN ORANGE COUNTY Nearly 60 charge registered nurses at three KPC facilities voted to join California Nurses Association last year and in Febru- ary, they unanimously ratified their contract, bringing them into the existing agreement with other union RNs. The facili- ties are Anaheim Global Medical Center in Anaheim, South Coast Global Medical Cen- ter in Santa Ana, and Chapman Global Medical Center in Orange. Under this agree- ment, charge RNs will make 7 percent above the current wage scale for RNs, with some increases as much as 20 percent. MEE MEMORIAL HOSPITAL In March registered nurses at George L. Mee Memorial Hospital in King City unanimously ratified a new four-year contract. Highlights include a new patient acuity classification committee to address an outdated acuity model and help ensure safe staffing in each hospital unit, improving patient care and out- comes; designated lift teams; recognition of Juneteenth as a federal holiday starting in 2023; and wage increases for RNs upon ratifi- cation and 3 percent wage increases in 2023, 2024, and 2025 as well as gains in retirement language, and no takeaways. TRI-CITY MEDICAL CENTER Registered nurses at Tri-City Medical Center in Oceanside, Calif. ratified a new four-year contract in March, averting a strike. The agreement covers more than 500 registered nurses and includes major wins on safe staffing, workplace violence, and infection control. Nurses won an across-the-board raise of 8.4 percent over the life of the con- tract and compensation for years of experience. In addition, nurses will receive a retention bonus ranging from $1,000 to $2,500 to be determined by years of service. Other contract highlights include workplace violence prevention improvements, meal- and-rest break protections, and a rapid response team nurse available at all times. USC VERDUGO HILLS HOSPITAL Registered nurses at Verdugo Hills Hospital in Glendale, Calif., overwhelmingly approved a new three-year contract with the University of Southern California in early March. Con- tract highlights include patient safety wins, such as a commitment to the use of negative pressure rooms for potentially infectious patients, guaranteed supplies of personal protective equipment, a new infectious dis- ease task force; safer floating practices; and a competitive economics package with gains that will help Verdugo Hills recruit and retain nurses. CNA represents more than 300 nurses at Verdugo Hills Hospital. Maine Maine Medical Center ER nurses held a speak-out in February about the violence they experience in the workplace, and what Maine Med management can do to better protect them. The day before the speak- out, Maine Med made a commitment to at least some of their recent demands, but Lucy Dawson, an RN in Maine Med's emer- gency department said, "There is still more for Maine Med to do. We now have several emergency room nurses who have been brutally attacked by patients within the recent past." Veterans Health Administration Registered nurses at Miami's Bruce W. Carter VA Medical held an action in January to demand that management invest in nurse staffing to provide optimal veteran care fol- lowing years of short staffing. Hospital data shows that 51 nurses have resigned in the previous five months, exacerbating the short-staffing crisis. Nurses at the VA have also raised a growing number of safety con- cerns to the hospital and filed official complaints with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. In February, Chicago-area RNs working for the VA held an action to protest inade- quate Covid leave policies that they say jeopardize their veteran patients by pushing or encouraging nurses to come to work sick. The RNs delivered a petition signed by 700 nurses to the VA regional headquarters. VA nurses blame a December 2021 Covid out- break at Chicago's Jesse Brown VA Medical Center on deficient leave policies: Multiple patients and staff were exposed to and infected by a Covid-positive employee. Since the expiration of emergency paid leave on Sept. 31, 2021, RNs have been forced to use their personal benefit time in many instances that previously were covered under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act. —Staff report From left: Maine Med RNs held an action to demand the hospital better protect them against workplace violence; Miami VA nurses rallied to protest short staffing and to demand invest- ments in safe staffing. NEWS BRIEFS