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CALIFORNIA A fter multiple strikes, regis- tered nurses at Cedars-Sinai Marina del Rey Hospital in Marina del Rey, Calif., voted in favor of ratifying a new four-year contract on Feb. 16, winning protections to improve patient safety and nurse retention. "After a long 12 months of bargaining and two historical strikes, nurses have won a contract that we are proud of," said Sophia Sabido, RN in the case management department. "I'm proud to represent the amazing nurses at Cedars-Sinai Marina del Rey Hospital, who have remained united during this fight." Highlights of the contract include: safe- guarding benefits and bargaining rights, maintaining a fair wage structure, and ele- ments that encourage safe staffing and recruitment and retention. The new pact covers the period from March 2023 to March 2027. Just in December, nurses had held a three-day strike in December 2023 to protest Cedars-Sinai management's attempts to take away nurses' bargaining rights. They also previously went on strike on Sept. 6, 2023. "Ridiculous management demands like these are driving nurses away from our hos- pital faster than they can replace—even when there are plenty of nurses to fill open positions," said Cody Kuok, a post-surgical RN and member of the bargaining team. "We hope management addresses our con- cerns so that the hospital can be safely staffed, now and in the future." Cedars-Sinai agreed to the presence of a federal mediator in contract negotiations with CNA nurses. —Michelle Morris Marina del Rey nurses win contract after multiple strikes MAINE I n january, registered nurses at North- ern Maine Medical Center (NMMC) in Fort Kent, Maine, voted overwhelm- ingly, 62 percent in favor, to join Maine State Nurses Association/National Nurses Organizing Committee (MSNA/NNOC). NNOC is an affiliate of National Nurses United. "We are thrilled that our coworkers voted 'Yes' to join Maine State Nurses Associa- tion," said Brad Martinez, RN in the intensive care unit at NMMC. "Together, we share a vision of improving the level of care our families receive in our hospital." Nurses at the 40-bed facility in Aroostook County, which borders New Brunswick, Canada, say they voted to join their new union because it is critical that nurses have a say in decisions about patient care and about recruitment and retention of nurses, which leads to improved patient care. MSNA/NNOC now represents 90 nurses at Northern Maine Medical Center. —Chuleenan Svetvilas Fort Kent nurses unionize J A N U A R Y | F E B R U A R Y | M A R C H 2 0 2 4 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