CNA nurses at USC ask for safe conditions.
Photo: Courtesy USC / Courtesy
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Over 14,000 healthcare professionals who are members of the California Nurses Association (CNA) and the California National Nurses Organizing Committee (NNOC) and Nevada ratified a four-year contract with 29 Dignity hospitals over the weekend. Health.
The agreement features stronger infectious disease prevention measures for nurses and patients, said Sandy Reding, president of CNA – an affiliate of National Nurses United – and a registered nurse who works in the operating room at Bakersfield Memorial Hospital.
“As we face another wave of COVID-19 patients filling our hospitals, we are proud to have achieved additional health and safety protections for our nurses and patients,” said Reding.
The agreement signed on Friday it includes a 13.5 percent salary increase over four years and the declaration that access to health is a human right.
It also includes health and safety provisions to ensure that nurses obtain the highest level of personal protective equipment, even when caring for patients who may be infected with COVID-19.
“During the pandemic we did not have enough staff in the hospitals; We knew that we had to take care of the patients, but even we did not have personal protective equipment, and what we did have, they wanted us to recycle it to reuse it, “the nurse told La Opinion.
Other provisions of the labor pact include health benefits to help retain and hire experienced nurses, without taking away or reducing their pension benefits or retiree health.
“We are hopeful that with the increased health care and financial gains we will be able to hire new nurses and retain experienced registered nurses to better protect the safety of our patients,” said Kathy Dennis, RN.
The new CNA / NNOC employment contract with Dignity Health will take effect from July 1, for the next four years and each unionized worker will receive a $ 1,000 ratification bonus.
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