National Nurses United

C ontracts covering five major hospital chains will expire around the end of June and an unprecedented 20,000 CNA RNs will be nego- tiating for similar improvements to their agreements, as well as provisions specific to their hospital systems. Together, the RNs have the poten- tial this summer to secure some landmark gains for both themselves and their patients. The University of California contract covers about 9,000 RNs and expired at the end of April. Contracts cov- ering some 4,200 RNs with Sutter Health; 4,000 RNs with Catholic Healthcare West; 1,300 RNs with Daughters of Charity; and 1,500 RNs for Hospital Corporation of America are expiring at the end of June. "The power of 20,000 nurses is almost impossible for me to imagine," said Allen Fitzpatrick, an RN at St. Mary's Medical Center, a CNA board member, and a leader on the Catholic Healthcare West negotiating team. "The power is incredible. You can't replace 20,000 nurses." Nurses will need all the power they can muster in today's state and national political climate. The Bush administration is decidedly anti-union; its policies and decisions consistently favor the interests of corporations over employees. The situation in California is arguably worse. In just the last six months, the Schwarzenegger administration has tried to dismantle safe RN-to-patient ratios, the Board of Registered Nursing, and public pen- sions, while at the same time attacking unions such as CNA as being the source of the state's problems. The hospitals, mainly through their lobbying group, the California Hospital Association, have in turn run pricey television ads to bolster Schwarzenegger's image and to attack CNA. "The healthcare corporations feel emboldened by the political atmosphere in California and nationally," said Mike Griffing, CNA's Director of Collective Bargaining. "They tried unsuccessfully to take back hard-fought gains that we've won on the legislative and regulatory fronts; we believe they'll try to do the same at the bargaining table." Fortunately, the RNs are entering bargaining at a time of intense political activity against Schwarzenegger's poli- cies, so the nurses are primed to fight for what they are asking. RNs have been attending rallies, picketing, writing letters, calling the governor—and winning. The governor dropped plans to disband the BRN, he was rebuffed by the courts when he tried to delay and weaken ratios, and he's backed off his plan to privatize state pensions. Cover | Story ■ ■ ■ C A L I F O R N I A N U R S E M A Y 2 0 0 5 9 20,000 RNs will be negotiating landmark contracts this summer More Than Bargained For S T A F F R E P O R T

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