National Nurses United

In this summer's bargaining talks, RNs will be attempting to translate these political victories into official contract lan- guage that is immune to emergency orders by the governor or a barrage of negative television ads. Besides the usual salary, recruitment, and retention improvements, the teams are working to incorporate safe staffing ratios directly into the contracts so that regardless of what the governor, courts, or Legislature may decide, standards are followed. With the slew of new tech- nology that hospitals are now buying and installing, the RNs are also seeking practice pro- tections against technologies that restrict their professional judgment or are used to replace RNs. In addition to these common goals, each group has system-specific goals. Sutter nurses will be fighting for common expirations of Sutter contracts with com- mon contract terms and will want to dis- cuss organizing rights that should help bring representation to non-unionized RNs. CHW RNs also want to talk about organizing rights as well as instituting a no cancellation policy. For UC RNs, the big issues are securing language that will pro- tect pensions and improving wages. "These negotiations will define col- lective bargaining for this year, and for many years to come," said Rose Ann DeMoro, CNA executive director. "This is a golden opportunity to address these issues as a unified force." 10 M A Y 2 0 0 5 C A L I F O R N I A N U R S E Cover | Story ■ ■ ■ 2005 Bargaining Facts at a Glance CATHOLIC HEALTHCARE WEST: 3,700 RNs at 11 hospitals SUTTER HEALTH: 4,200 RNs at eight hospitals HOSPITAL CORPORATION OF AMERICA: 1,200 at two hospitals UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA: 9,000 RNs at six hospitals and four student health centers DAUGHTERS OF CHARITY: 1,400 RNs at four hospitals Top to bottom: CHW bargain- ing team RNs pose for a photo during a break in negotiations; UC bargaining team RNs show unity in red scrubs; Daughters of Charity bargaining team RNs stand strong.

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