National Nurses United

J U LY | A U G U S T | S E P T E M B E R 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 9 WRAP-UP REPORT California AlAmeDA HosPiTAl registered nurses at Alameda Hospital, operated by the public, not-for-profit, Alameda Health System in Alameda, voted unanimously in early October to ratify a new contract cover- ing 120 RNs that features protected healthcare coverage and retirement benefits as well as significant economic gains of 28 percent over the first two years of the three-year contract. Provisions in the new contract will improve the hospital's ability to assure safe staffing levels and recruit and retain experi- enced RNs, nurses say. "With the new contract I think our ability to recruit and retain experi- enced RNs and raise staffing levels will improve greatly," said Rose Klein, RN. sAN JoAquiN GeNeRAl HosPiTAl registered nurses voted by an over- whelming majority in late September to ratify a new contract covering the 600 RNs working at San Joaquin General Hospital and throughout the San Joaquin County Health Service Agency. RNs say the contract, which runs from Jan. 1, 2016 to Dec. 31, 2018, includes improvements and workplace protections as well as economic gains that will enhance the hospital's ability to retain and recruit RNs after years of significant loss of nursing staff to other hospitals in the region. "This contract is the result of our collective action to promote the best interests of our patients, who deserve high-quality public sector healthcare," said Marilyn Schied, RN. Key features in the new pact include staffing improvements to promote patient safety, economic improvements averaging 20 percent over the contract term to promote retention of experienced RNs and recruit- ment of new nurses, and contract language supporting adequate meal and rest breaks. sAN leANDRo HosPiTAl registered nurses at San Leandro Hospital in mid October voted unanimously to ratify a new two-year contract covering about 200 nurses working at the facility, which is part of the public Alameda Health System. "Our nurs- es are so proud to have stood strong and made our voices heard throughout the negotiating process," said Lisa LaFave, RN. "This agree- ment extends safe patient care standards, and strengthens our ability to recruit and retain well-trained nurses." Contract highlights include a 16 percent across-the-board wage increase over the contract term; safe staffing protections; improved educational opportuni- ties; and defeat of all takeaways. sAN luis oBisPo central coast RNs rejoiced in early October over a San Luis Obispo County Planning Commission 3-2 vote to reject a controversial Phillips 66 proposal to transport 2.2 millions of gallons of crude tar sands oil through the county by rail every week. Nurses have repeatedly joined with central California coast residents opposing the oil trains as a threat to public health and safety, as well as exacerbating the climate crisis. Rail accidents involv- ing tar sands crude oil have created deadly blasts, and polluting spills with long-term health hazards for communities around North America. "The decision by the Planning Commission to reject the Phillips 66 proposal is tremendous!" said Sherri Stoddard, RN, a Los Osos resident and CNA/NNOC board member. "We strongly oppose both the transport of oil by rail, as well as fracking in California. It is time to move away from fossil fuels, and toward clean energy alternatives." sT. ViNCeNT meDiCAl CeNTeR registered nurses working in case manage- ment, TCU, interventional radiology, the GI lab, and as nurse educators at St. Vincent Medical Center in Los Angeles voted by 86 percent in late October to join their already unionized RN coworkers in joining CNA/ NNOC. Now all RN classifications and departments are included in the bargaining unit and these 40 nurses will participate in the ongoing bargaining process with Verity Health, which owns the facility. Maine Nurses at Down East Community Hospital, a small critical access facility in Machias, Maine, successfully settled a new two-year contract in late September that maintains benefits, makes improvements in scheduling and floating in obstetrics, and provides economic gains for the nurses. —Staff report From top: RNs at Alameda Hospital vote on a new contract; RNs at San Joaquin General Hospital cast their votes on a new agreement.

• Cover