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C A L I F O R N I A N U R S E O C T O B E R 2 0 0 5 5 R Ns represented by CNA at six Northern California Sutter Health hospitals ratified new, two-year contracts in mid-August that will en- sure patients are cared for by more reg- istered nurses, boost wages, and position Sutter RNs to bargain together in 2007. One of the most contentious is- sues this bargaining season was per- suading Sutter to agree to abide by state-mandated RN minimum staffing ratios directly in the contract. Sutter committed to achieving this goal over time, and agreed to shift to an almost all-RN nursing staff by hiring RNs into all vacant and newly-posted positions in various units, and converting vacant LVN positions to RN positions. Another thorny issue was getting Sutter to accept language restricting the introduction of skill-degrading, not skill-enhancing technology in the hos- pital. Sutter agreed in principle to CNA's language on this issue. Other highlights included limits on the use of traveler RNs, creation of more part-time, benefited positions, a pro- tection of choice in health plans and cost of prescription drug copays, better early retiree and retiree health bene- fits, and a no-cancellation policy unless certain criteria are met. Nurses with Alta Bates Summit Medical Center, Sutter Solano Medical Center, Eden Medical Center, St. Luke's Hospital, California Pacific Medical Center, and Mills-Peninsula Health Ser- vices will see a 12 to 20 percent wage increase, depending on the facility. Meanwhile, healthcare workers with SEIU-United Healthcare Workers West continue to struggle in their bar- gaining talks with Sutter and struck the three San Francisco hospitals that con- stitute California Pacific Medical Cen- ter in mid-September. —Staff report S ome 450 registered nurses with Sutter Medical Center Santa Rosa overwhelmingly voted in Sep- tember to affiliate with CNA, growing the number of Sutter RNs represented by CNA to 5,000 at 13 hospitals and two visiting nurse associations. "By joining with other Sutter nurses throughout Northern California, the Sutter Medical Center RNs in Santa Rosa will help the ability of all Sutter nurses to make positive changes for their patients," said Deborah Burger, RN and CNA president. The Sutter Medical Center RNs were eager to begin bargaining their first CNA contract. They are pre- paring to elect a facility bargaining council and nurse negotiators, and contacting nurses throughout the hospital to determine priorities that will be translated into proposals for negotiations. "The nurses have spoken," said Pam Bacigalupi, an emergency room RN. "We're looking forward to going to the bargaining table with CNA." —Staff report Sutter Santa Rosa RNs Join CNA Sutter RNs Approve Contracts