December 2011
As we say goodbye to the year that was 2011, I’m recalling how our union has grown in my first year as President. We won union representation for RNs at Beverly Hospital in seven weeks and have been fighting ever since for a contract. By the time you’re reading this, we will have secured recognition at Kaiser for over 1,000 specialty nurses and almost 200 CNM/WOCN’s. Meanwhile, we won a tremendous second contract for the Registered Nurses at Parkview Community Hospital, including national certification, BSN and MSN language designed to raise RNs skills in order to improve patient care. We avoided a Board of Inquiry with Garden Grove management and signed a contract that included national certification language and a better 401(k), which will mean a better life for members in retirement. The St. Francis contract battle was described in detail last issue. We won landmark staffing rights for our nurses in that fight. More recently, our RNs at Sharp won a contract with improvements such as the establishment of float clusters, which will greatly improve patient care and safety. Congratulations to all the affiliates that continue to fight and win at the negotiating table.
We’ve spent a lot of time winning in court and in arbitrations—see our latest victory in Union in Brief. Whether it was ending an unfair labor practice occurring at Kaiser (see July/August Voice) or the NLRB prosecuting Chino Valley Medical Center’s refusal to bargain, 2011 was a banner year for UNAC/UHCP’s legal department. Our legislative and political team also kept extremely busy, with a recent victory on Senate Bill 233 that expanded the role of Physician Assistants in emergency situations, and significant work raising our visibility in the political and legislative communities. It has never been greater. Our public affairs department continues to amplify our voices and our story through branding initiatives and the use of new technologies.
As we head into the 2012 political elections during a difficult time for unions and, more close to home, in our own negotiations with Kaiser, I want to urge everyone to stand together. Register to vote if you haven’t already. Make sure we have your current email address and phone number so we can contact you if emergency legislation comes up. Get involved during negotiations. What we do today will shape our tomorrow. Let’s make it a good one, not just for ourselves, but for our children and theirs.
In Unity,
Ken Deitz, RN
Other Messages From the President
WE WON! Tentative Agreement Reached With Kaiser!
At 2:45AM Friday, May 11, UNAC/UHCP and the Coalition of Unions reached a tentative agreement with Kaiser covering 95,000 Kaiser employees across the country. Details to come.
After a Hard Fought Battle, Beverly Nurses Win Their First Contract
Beverly RNs voted by 96% to approve a first contract on May 2, 2012 after a year long battle to secure wage increases, grievance and arbitration, and a voice in patient care.
Safe Staffing Legislation Passes First Test
“SB 1246 will help Registered Nurses provide safe patient care without worrying about hospitals cutting corners and jeopardizing the health of a patient,” said Barbara Blake, RN, State Secretary/Treasurer of UNAC/UHCP.