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14 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 U LY | A U G U S T | S E P T E M B E R 2 0 2 2 WRAP-UP REPORT California CENTINELA HOSPITAL MEDICAL CENTER registered nurses at Centinela Hospital Medical Center in Inglewood overwhelm- ingly approved a new three-year agreement in September. Earlier in the year, the RNs held an informational picket to protest management's refusal to address the impact of chronic short staffing on patient care. "We achieved, through our collective efforts, what we once thought was impossible," said Emma Santiago, a registered nurse in the cardiovascular ICU. "The morale of my unit and the entire hospital nursing staff is ele- vated." Contract highlights include having a designated resource/break nurse in every unit, with the emergency department get- ting up to two resource/break nurses and the option to increase the number as needed; retaining floating guidelines; and agreement to maintain a stockpile of new, unused personal protective equipment. The nurses also won wage increases up to 22 percent over the life of the contract and a 40 percent increase in the attendance incentive. GOOD SAMARITAN HOSPITAL/SAN JOSE REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER rns at hca's San Jose Regional Medical Center and Good Samaritan Hospital in San Jose ratified a three-year contract in July. CNA represents 835 nurses at Good Samari- tan and 570 nurses at San Jose Regional Medical Center. Highlights of the agreement include improved health and safety provi- sions on infectious disease control; commitment to strengthen preceptor pro- grams and a stipulation to ensure that preceptor and preceptee are given one shared assignment; and no floating of newly graduated nurses during their first six months of employment. The RNs also won wage increases ranging from 17.4 percent to 29.4 percent over the life of the contract and double differentials for nurses who work hard to staff shifts. HAZEL HAWKINS MEMORIAL HOSPITAL in july, registered nurses at Hazel Hawkins Memorial Hospital in Hollister voted 99 percent in favor of a new four-year pact. "As the only acute-care facility in San Benito County, investing in retention and recruitment of nursing staff is crucial to continue to provide quality health care for our community," said Sonia Duran, RN, and a member of the bargaining team. High- lights of the new agreement include the creation of an Infectious Disease Task Force, with RN representation; formation of a Workplace Violence Prevention Com- mittee with two RN representatives; Juneteenth and Martin Luther King Day recognized as federal holidays; and expan- sion of non-discrimination language. The RNs also won 12.5 percent across-the-board wage increases, beginning with 3.5 percent in the first year of the new agreement, and gains in shift differentials, standby pay, charge nurse pay, and the creation of Staff Nurse IV positions. KINDRED HOSPITAL BALDWIN PARK, KINDRED HOSPITAL SAN GABRIEL VALLEY, AND KINDRED HOSPITAL WESTMINSTER in july, registered nurses and health care workers approved new three-year agree- ments at Kindred Hospital Baldwin Park, Kindred Hospital San Gabriel Valley, and Kindred Hospital Westminster. Contract highlights include improved floating lan- guage for RNs, LVN credit for placement on the RN wage grid, and continuing educa- tion leave for Caregivers and Healthcare Employees Union members. The RNs and caregivers won historically high wage increases for Kindred employees, including a wage grid that recognizes Kindred years of service for the first time. Many members get advanced to the appropriate step on the wage grid, an increase of up to 35 percent wage in the first year. The pact includes a minimum increase of 5 per- cent in the first year, 4 percent in the second year, and 4 percent in the third year. SACRAMENTO COUNTY sacramento county public health nurses, clinic, mental health, and jail nurses approved a new three-year contract with their employer in July. The nurses won improvements to patient care, union rights, and wage increases to recruit and retain nurses. Contract highlights include improvements to ADO language; codifica- tion of sick leave protections; inclusion of workplace violence in existing safety lan- guage; and Juneteenth recognized as a federal holiday. The nurses also won a mini- mum of 10 percent across-the-board wage increases over the life of the agreement. Nevada SAINT MARY'S REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER in september, registered nurses at Saint Mary's Regional Medical Center in Reno voted overwhelmingly in favor of ratifying a new three-year contract, winning protec- tions to improve patient safety and nurse retention at their facility. Earlier this year, the RNs held a picket and a one-day strike for patient safety and safe staffing. CNA/NNOC represents more than 480 nurses at the facility. Highlights of the contract include lan- guage protecting patients and nurse safety, maintaining health care coverage for cur- rent nurse spouses or domestic partners, and economic gains to recruit and retain experienced RNs. —Staff report RNs ratified contracts at (from left) Centinela Hospital Medical Center, Hazel Hawkins Memorial Hospital, and Saint Mary's Regional Medical Center. NEWS BRIEFS