Issue link: https://nnumagazine.uberflip.com/i/1477982
Our 2020 USC negotiations did not start well. In the midst of a deadly global pandemic, Keck Medicine of USC and Norris Cancer Center took away protections nurses needed to care for themselves and their families. USC ignored our proposals for improved health a and safety protections that would ensure we had enough PPE at all times and other workplace protections when faced with infectious disease (like Covid-19). We needed to strike. Our strike showed the power and determination of the RNs, which led to our victory. Our proposals were accepted, takeaways were stopped, and we got more! Some highlights include a commitment to hire 70 new RNs and reduce travelers by more than 50 percent, which will improve the quality of care. We won new health and safety language which will include a novel disease task committee to address cohorting of patients, staffing, PPE, exposure control plans, and other related topics." — Allysha Shin, RN CNA Board Member Keck Medicine of USC Los Angeles, Calif. 25 WHAT ABOUT STRIKES? STRIKE FACTS A strike is the most powerful tactic used in the negotiation process and, when used, is done with careful preparation. In 95 percent of CNA/NNU's negotiations, RNs have won successful contracts without strikes. RNS ORGANIZE TO IMPROVE PATIENT CARE AND THEIR WORKING LIVES AS PROFESSIONALS, NOT TO STRIKE When RNs do vote to strike, they create mechanisms to ensure the well-being of their patients and the community. These include a Patient Protection Task Force and a 10-day written strike notice to give the hospital time to prepare. ONLY RNS THEMSELVES CAN DECIDE TO STRIKE CNA/NNU organizers, representatives, or other staff do not call strikes. A strike occurs only after a majority of the represented nurses in your hospital decide to do so in a secret ballot strike vote. HOW CNA/NNU NURSES PROTECT PATIENTS IN THE EVENT OF A STRIKE When CNA/NNU RNs strike, they create several mechanisms to ensure the well-being of their patients and community. X 10-Day Notice The nurses give the hospital written notice, 10 days in advance, of their intent to strike as required by law. This is to give the hospital time to stop admitting new patients and begin the process of transferring patients who can be safely moved. X Patient Protection Task Force We notify the employer that in the case of an emer- gency during the striking period, we will have nurses available through the Patient Protection Task Force. In case of an emergency, the task force will make a professional assessment of each situation and will, if it deems necessary, assign a nurse to the patient. "