RNs Announce Breakthrough Multi-State Organizing Pact - National Agreement One Of Largest For RNs In U.S. History

Main Category: Nursing / Midwifery
Article Date: 22 Aug 2007 - 1:00 PDT

email to a friend   printer friendly   view / write opinions   rate article

In one of the largest multi-state union organizing agreements ever for registered nurses, the California Nurses Association/National Nurses Organizing Committee announced a major national pact with Tenet Healthcare opening the door for representation elections for at least 3,000 non-union RNs around the United States into one of the nation's fastest growing unions.

Concurrently, CNA/NNOC announced the completion of the first phase of the agreement as RNs at nine California hospitals, including Tenet's two largest facilities in the state, had approved a new collective bargaining contract covering an additional 3,500 nurses.

The contract provides for average pay gains of 25.5 percent over four years, significant patient care enhancements, and improved union rights. Tenet RNs approved the pact in membership meetings Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.

"This is a monumental moment for the nation's RNs as Tenet nurses across the nation have a historic opportunity to join with 3,500 of their unionized colleagues to assure the highest standards for their patients and themselves," said Rose Ann DeMoro, CNA/NNOC Executive Director and a National Vice President of the AFL-CIO.

The organizing pact provides a process under which Tenet RNs in selected facilities are now eligible to affiliate with CNA/NNOC in fair, democratic representation elections.

Meanwhile, California Tenet RNs were hailing their new agreement

"Today, Tenet RNs spoke out clearly in favor of patients and our profession. There is strength in numbers," said Laura Fairhurst, an Emergency Room RN at Modesto.

"The overwhelming vote to ratify in all nine CNA/Tenet hospitals demonstrates the nurses' solidarity in advocating for our patients and insuring working conditions that will keep RNs at the bedside," said nurse negotiator Sherri Stoddard, a CNA/NNOC Board member and a Tenet RN at Sierra Vista Regional Medical Center in San Luis Obispo.

On top of across the board pay raises, the RNs receive more additional compensation based on years of service to their hospital that will be determined in separate bargaining at each facility, "wage equity and rates that will recruit and retain RNs in our hospitals," as Stoddard put it.

For nurses at the USC University Hospital in Los Angeles, "this contract not only ensures our raise, it promotes recruitment and retention of experienced nurses while benefiting quality patient care," said Norris RN Nicole Ramos.

Ratios and other patient care enhancements

Enhanced patient care provisions were a major focus as well. The new agreement places California's groundbreaking RN-to-patient ratios in the Tenet contracts, making them subject to contract enforcement provisions. It strengthens guidelines to assure RNs work in areas of their specialty expertise and provides for lift policies to ensure safe patient handling.

Additionally, the agreement stipulates that introduction of new technology at Tenet facilities will not displace or erode RN professional judgment.

"This contract will benefit both the nurses and patients, resulting in strong, quality patient care. We are ecstatic that an overwhelming majority of Doctors (Modesto) nurses have approved the contract," said Modesto RN Sue Boyer.

"I was proud to present this contract to our coworkers," said Marlen Wears, an RN at Desert Regional Medical Center in Palm Springs. "The agreement is a great step forward for nurses and patients in the Coachella Valley."

"This contract for Desert nurses is the best ever! It was great to see coworkers with smiles on their faces throughout the voting process," said Desert RN Jim Cannon.

Among many other provisions, the agreement also includes an important protection for the RNs' union rights. Tenet agreed, joining with many other CNA/NNOC facilities, that it will not seek to exclude nurses from representation on the dubious claim that they are "supervisors" under a controversial ruling by the Bush administration's federal labor board last year.

"We have been negotiating with Tenet for nearly a year, and I am thrilled with the ratification of this contract," Stoddard noted.

"As a member of the statewide CNA Bargaining Committee, I am proud of the job we accomplished in coming to an agreement with Tenet Healthcare," said Norris RN Alice Colacino, like many of her colleagues a nurse negotiator. "This contract will reward our nurses for their diligence, skills, and critical decision making, and will strengthen our collective voice. Our patients, nurses and Tenet will reap the benefits from this historic agreement."

Other hospitals affected by the agreement are Los Alamitos Medical Center near Los Angeles, Twin Cities Community Hospital in Templeton on the central coast; and two Bay Area hospitals, Community Hospital of Los Gatos, and San Ramon Regional Medical Center.

CNA/NNOC represents 75,000 RNs from California to Maine. http://www.calnurses.org.