National Nurses United

J A N U A R Y | F E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 6 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 7 CALIFORNIA L ikely hoping to avoid a repeat of contentious contract bargaining in the past couple rounds of negotia- tions that resulted in 12 strikes by nurses who successfully stood strong in the face of concessions, the Northern California chain Sutter Health since mid-December has so far settled contracts with RNs at 12 facili- ties that protect existing standards while making some significant gains and across- the-board salary increases of at least 16 percent over four years, with some longtime RNs at certain facilities earning much larger raises up to 27 percent. California Nurses Association/National Nurses United repre- sents more than 8,000 Sutter RNs repre- sented by CNA across Northern California. Notable is the win of a first contract by RNs at both Sutter Tracy Community Hospital, where nurses have been locked in tough bargaining talks since they unionized nearly four years ago, and at San Francisco's California Pacific Medical Center Pacific Campus where nurses have been bargaining for a first contract the past two years. At Sutter Tracy, the RNs have gone on strike three times for a fair contract, and finally achieved multiple patient care and econom- ic improvements that nurses say will put an end to what was a 45 percent turnover of RNs over the past few years at the hospital. Among the new terms, Sutter Tracy RNs won improved staffing provisions, includ- ing coverage for patients during a nurse's meal and rest breaks. The Tracy pact also puts an end to the subjective "merit" system for determining pay increases, as well as critical provisions to establish a committee of nurses, elected by their peers, to meet with management to address patient care concerns, and provisions to assure union protection from unfair discipline. "Through our contract struggle we have stood up for what is right for the health of our community," said Sutter Tracy RN Dotty Nygard. "Because of the gains we made in our contract we will be able to attract nurses back into our hospital. I've lived in Tracy for more than 20 years and I am so happy for all of the Sutter Tracy nurses and the commu- nity we serve." Nurses at CPMC Pacific Campus while bargaining their first contract were joined by nurses at CPMC's St. Luke's and Califor- nia campuses, whose contract was up for successor bargaining. Together, the united team made major gains in safety, staffing, and economic provisions. "Two years ago, we won a voice for nurses at CPMC Pacific through union representa- tion and since then, through a united effort, we have been able to reach an amazing contract agreement that gives the ability to strongly advocate for ourselves, our profes- sion, and our patients," said a jubilant Amy Erb, RN, CPMC Pacific Campus. "We are happy to be joining California and St. Luke's nurses in solidarity!" The East Bay hospitals Delta, Eden, and Alta Bates Summit, constituted the core of many of the 14 strikes in the last bargaining round, but this time, each facility reached an agreement in less than 12 weeks with no strikes. The contrast was stark, and nurses uniformly attributed their success in winning staffing, health and safety provi- sions, and very large economic gains to their willingness in the last round to always be willing to engage and fight, and to their growing solidarity. Contract settlements were also particu- larly sweet for RNs at Sutter Auburn Faith Hospital and Sutter Roseville Medical Center as they have been working without a contract since mid-2014. "Throughout this bargaining process, the nurses stood togeth- er to improve patient care and add to our standards, so that we could retain experi- enced nurses here at Auburn Faith," Sutter Auburn Faith RN Sandy Ralston said. "With this agreement, we nurses accomplished our goals, including building our solidarity." Nurses at all Sutter hospitals were facing similar contract concession demands by Sutter, mainly in health coverage. Under these new agreements, Sutter pulled back and made dramatic changes to what they originally sought. Among other provisions, the agreement adds language to support the participation of nurses in planning protections regarding exposure to infectious diseases, such as Ebola, and includes several work schedule improvements. Further, Sutter agreed to end the practice of using unpaid "interns" in training where licensed RNs provide direct patient care without pay. So far, Sutter RNs at Novato Community Hospital, Mills-Peninsula, Auburn Faith, Sutter Roseville, Sutter Tracy, Sutter Santa Rosa, Sutter Solano, Sutter Lakeside, Delta, Eden, Alta Bates Summit, and CPMC St. Luke's, California, and Pacific have won new contracts. Bargaining continues for CNA- represented Sutter RNs at Sutter Santa Cruz, a visiting nurses home health service. —Staff report Sutter RNs forge ahead with new contracts Bargaining continues for some colleagues

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