St. Francis Registered Nurses Association
Staff Representative – Penny Brown, RN
Penny@unac-ca.org
President – Sandra Marques, RN
Vice President/BOD – Scott Byington, RN
Secretary – Edwin Guardado, RN
Treasurer – Janice Fraser, RN
St. Francis News
Governor Brown Vetoes Board of Nursing Renewal Bill — Write Your Legislators So We Can Get it Back ASAP
Email your legislators on our site to ask for rapid action on a special session to pass legislation to ensure the BRN is maintained. Read moreSFRNA Newsletter
Congratulations to all for winning a great contract!
Click here for the SFRNA Newsletter: September 2011, which highlights improvements that we won in our new contract. Some of these include: Clinical Ladder Grid for Specialty Pay; Pension: New Defined Contribution; Bilingual Differential and Education Reimbursement.
Feel free to download and print the SFRNA Newsletter, share the news and encourage your fellow SFRNA nurses to Read All About It!
Strike Avoided, St. Francis Registered Nurses Ratify Contract
Seven hundred Registered Nurses at St. Francis Medical Center (SFMC) ratified their contract, after a three day strike was averted. Less than 72 hours after hospital management received the strike notification, SFMC agreed to all major issues that had been holding up settlement of the contract. Read moreSt. Francis Registered Nurses Reach Tentative Settlement with Hospital
The September 3 Tentative Agreement on a new contract for 700 Registered Nurses at St. Francis Medical Center came just nine days before a 72 hour strike was to occur. Read moreSt Francis Calls to Resume Negotiations
Today the SFRNA President, Sandi Marques, RN, UNAC/UHCP President Ken Deitz, RN, Chief Negotiator Barbara Lewis, and UNAC/UHCP Economist Bill Rouse met with Laura Kato and Bob Millman at their request to discuss the outstanding critical issues.
• Funding the pension liability
• Annual across-the-board wage increases
• Fourth shift pay
• HMO benefit
• Staffing
The atmosphere was constructive, and as a result, we will resume negotiations tomorrow, Saturday, September… Read more
St. Francis Nurses Vote to Strike for Patient Safety
The Registered Nurses at St. Francis Medical Center voted overwhelmingly today to strike, after months of negotiations for a new contract in which they sought guarantees for safer staffing to improve patient care. Read moreSt. Francis Registered Nurses Strike For Patient Care
St. Francis RNs will strike effective Monday, September 12 at 6:45 AM through Thursday, September 15 at 6:45 AM.
It is crucial that we stand strong–together. Our three-day strike is centered on management’s refusal to provide safe, patient-centered care standards; funding of our pension benefits; a fair wage adjustment; and a continued, affordable HMO option for our families.
This is our future. We have to stand together. Take the first step by signing up for… Read more
Make Your Voice Heard Tuesday
At bargaining session on Friday, management proposed extensive takeaways. They made it clear they do not respect the care we give our patients. The SFRNA Bargaining Team has unanimously recommended a vote to strike tomorrow.
Strike Vote Meeting
Tuesday, August 30
7:30 AM – 9 PM
Cerritos Sheraton
12725 Center Court Dr.
Cerritos, CA 90703
Every RN needs to be at the meeting to hear the details about management’s takeaways… Read more
SFRNA Strike Vote Tuesday August 30, 2011
At bargaining Friday, August 26, management was still proposing extensive takeaways.
The SFRNA Bargaining Team unanimously recommends a vote to strike.
Strike Vote Meeting
Tuesday, August 30
7:30 AM – 9 PM
Cerritos Sheraton
12725 Center Court Dr.
Cerritos, CA 90703
Every RN needs to be at the meeting to hear about management’s takeaways and the union’s proposals.
General Membership Meeting Report and Next Bargaining Dates
The general membership meeting held Friday, August 19th, had a great turnout. An update on negotiations was given to the members: presented were items/issues that have been tentatively agreed to and the following outstanding issues – pension, wages, HMO insurance, and staffing.
Thank you to the hundreds of St. Francis RNs who’ve come out to support us at bargaining. The look on management’s faces when they have to sit across the table from a whole… Read more
General Membership Meeting Friday
Meet with SFRNA President Sandi Marques, RN, and other members of the Bargaining Team to get a first-hand update on negotiations on Friday, August 19 in Room 1149. Key outstanding issues remain: pension, wages, staffing and health care. Read moreThe Fight Continues: Bargaining Update, August 12, 2011
We presented a Settlement Package to management; and spent the last two days discussing the pension plan only. There was some movement forward in addressing the concerns on the funding of our pension plan, but there has been no agreement reached. Read moreSt. Francis Pension Protection Update
Tomorrow members of the RN bargaining team are meeting with the Daughters of Charity pension fund administrators to determine what’s needed for our pension plan to be secure and well funded.
Here’s why it’s so important: it’s your future. For example, as a Specialty RN I with 20 years at St. Francis, the current defined benefit pension plan would pay you roughly $30,000 a year for life in retirement.
For more information, click here.
Mark… Read more
St. Francis RNs Beat 17% Wage Cuts in Three Days of Marathon Bargaining
But the fight for a fair contract continues.
It was a tremendous presence of St. Francis RNs day and night at bargaining, and our fearlessness in speaking out and taking action, that won a big victory on the second day of bargaining.
The RN Bargaining Team got management to withdraw their proposal to cut our wages by 17%.
That same night we agreed to a 30-day contract extension under these conditions:
1. No changes to… Read more
Bargaining Update: St. Francis RNs Speak Out
At today’s negotiations, RNs from ICU, Tele, 8th floor, 4th floor, and ER, gave presentations about the inadequate staffing on the units.
Representatives from the offices of Assembly members Holly Mitchell, Ricardo Lara, and Steve Bradford came to speak to our members and give them support in our contract fight.
Bargaining is continuing into the night and we urge every RN to be here at the Long Beach Marriott by 10 AM Wednesday morning, July… Read more
Safety Net Emergency Departments Like St. Francis Medical Center’s ED Becoming Critical
While one third of US emergency departments closed between 1989 and 2009, safety net emergency departments were an astounding 40% more likely to disappear during the same time frame. Read moreSign Up for St. Francis Bargaining Text Alerts
On July 12, we expect St. Francis management to respond to our economic proposals. Bargaining over these proposals will continue for three days. Be a part of the action. Sign up for Text Message Alerts to receive up-to-the-minute information about negotiations. Text SFRNA to 37398. Read moreSFRNA Bargaining Update: June 24, 2011
We Will NOT Agree to Takeaways
Over 200 RNs attended the last two days of bargaining as the RN bargaining team presented its Economic and Job Security Proposal to management. See our proposals here.
In presenting our proposal, the RN Bargaining Team stated, “We fully support the mission and vision of both SFMC and the system, but we cannot support a proposal that unfairly places the burden for the cost of that vision on… Read more
SFRNA Bargaining Update: June 20, 2011
St. Francis Proposes 17% Wage Cut for RNs
St. Francis today proposed eliminating overtime pay after 8 hours, which effectively means a minimum 17% wage cut. Click here to see how the proposed cut would affect you.
In addition, they proposed that RNs now start paying for part of our HMO health insurance, which none of the other unionized St. Francis employees are required to do.
The union bargaining team calls all RNs to… Read more
SFRNA Bargaining Update: June 15, 2011
We have reached agreement on most of the non-economic issues. The following issues are now outstanding and next week we expect to exchange proposals on:
– Specialty Grid
– Wages
– Health Benefits
– Staffing
“The fear of speaking only goes away when you start speaking up for yourself and for safe patient care. Speak up now and fill out staffing objection forms if you have an unsafe… Read more
June 14 Bargaining Update
RN Bargaining Team Improves Job Security
Today the RN Bargaining Team and St. Francis management reached agreement on:
* Discipline and Discharge
* Leaves of Absences
* Job Postings and Filling of Vacancies
We made improvement in the language, strengthening our rights and protections. Among the issues we won today, is the right to have disciplinary notices removed from our personnel files if we are “discipline free” for 18 months for verbal… Read more
Get the Latest News
In the last year, UNAC/UHCP has emailed out critical information to members about contract negotiations, license notices, and health care benefits. Don’t be left out because we don’t have your email address. Send us your email address at publicaffairs@unac-ca.org along with your name and your affiliate.
St. Francis Negotiations Kick Off – May/June’11 Voice
On May 16 the SFRNA contract negotiations opened. The contract expires on June 30, 2011. Additional negotiation sessions have been scheduled for June 14, 15, 20, 23, and 24. Read moreEveryday Leader – Ahsan Haque, RN
I have a lot of friends that work in non-union hospitals. When their management makes a decision, there’s nothing they can do about it. That’s the way it has to be in a non-union hospital. Read moreBargaining Update: May 31, 2011
On May 17, the SFRNA Bargaining Team gave St. Francis management a comprehensive proposal to address staffing issues and the shortage of support staff. (View our proposal here.)
Unfortunately, St Francis management did not provide any response to our concerns on staffing.
Instead of addressing staffing issues, St. Francis gave us proposals that are substandard to what other St. Francis employees have who are represented by SEIU-UHW.
For example:
• If our hospital… Read more
SFRNA Negotiations Update: May 18, 2011
Three days of marathon bargaining have ended, and here’s what SFRNA Nurses have to say:
“Negotiations cover many important RN concerns. Each proposal carries just as much weight as the previous and affects my practice in its entirety.” –Celestine, 7th Floor Med-Surg
“Our issues are not dealt with in a timely manner by management.” –Cora Javier, Minda Ygay and Chris Choi, NICU
“Great negotiating Team for SFRNA. The Team is negotiating for a… Read more
SFRNA Negotiations: May 17, 2011
Bargaining Team Presents New Proposals: Professional Practice Standards & Delivery of Safe Outstanding Care
On Tuesday, SFRNA Bargaining Team members presented a new proposal to address the various staffing concerns raised by members. Bargaining Team members spoke up about our ability to deliver safe, quality care.
Rosa Carcamo ER RN, told Management, “The ER Department as a whole has major staffing issues, including lack of Management support and resources in the department to deal with… Read more
St. Francis Bargaining Update: May 16, 2011
St. Frances Registered Nurses Association and St. Francis Medical Center Negotiations started this morning at Long Beach Marriott in Long Beach. The Bargaining Team felt strongly supported by the tremendous turn out during the first day. After the Introduction and opening statements, Management made presentations on financial status and pension information.
Our Bargaining Team presented 13 proposals on the following issues:
- Discipline & Discharge
- Grievance Procedure
- Seniority
- Probation & Evaluation
- Leave of Absence
UNAC/UHCP Retiree Council Plans Next Steps
Members of the United Nurses Association/Union of Health Care Professionals Retirees Council Committee met in the UNAC/UHCP San Dimas office to plan for the future. Committee member Barbara Jordan, RN, said, “UNAC/UHCP does not end when you retire. It is a new beginning.” Read moreLet’s Get This Bargaining Party Started!
St. Francis is a strong hospital because we’ve got a good contract that guarantees a voice and respect for nurses—the backbone of the hospital. We must do what it takes to keep it that way. Come to the Bargaining Kick-Off and attend all bargaining sessions. Read moreWe’ve Chosen Our Team for the Bargaining Table
We cast our votes in large numbers and on Wednesday, March 24 they were all counted. We have a new bargaining team to champion our issues in upcoming contract talks. Read moreImportant Vote: St. Francis Negotiating Committee
Voting is now taking place for the St. Francis Negotiating Committee. Ballots were mailed to your home on March 7th and are due back by March 21st (please mail them back). The following RNs have been nominated and are running for the negotiating committee:
Miriam Pinawin, RN, BSN, NICU
Diane Thomas, RN, Med Surg/4
Margo Chavez, RN, ICU
Jenea Carraway, RNC, L&D
Rosa Carcamo, RN, ER
Kelle Falbo, RN, NICU
Deborah Montijo, RN, ICU
Marilen… Read more
UNAC/UHCP Hits the Black Barbershop
Nurses screened hundreds of patients, and optometrists gazed into more than 200 eyeballs at this year’s African American Men’s Health and Empowerment Summit. Though the program is known as the Black Barbershop Outreach Program, this year’s event was held at the Los Angeles Convention Center, a sign of its continued growth and success. Read moreSocial Mixer – Jul/Aug’10 Voice
UNAC /UHCP staff and members from Garden Grove, St. Francis, Fountain Valley, Lakewood and Chino Valley affiliates came together at a social mixer on June 23 to celebrate some of their recent organizing and negotiation successes and upcoming negotiations for Garden Grove and St. Francis.
2010 Union Dues – Jan/Feb’10 Voice
Your union dues support UNAC/UHCP’s efforts to strengthen the voices of health care professionals. Dues, established by the UNAC/UHCP Constitution, are based on the wage rates at each affiliate. As wage rates increase, dues go up proportionally.
For 2010, dues for full-time and part-time RNs, NPs, and PAs at Kaiser Permanente will be $47.74 per pay period, effective the pay period ending January 2, 2010. For Per Diems in these job categories, dues will be… Read more
Nurses Make House Calls – Nov/Dec’09 Voice
UNAC/UHCP Nurses educate the American public about health care reform legislation
PHOTO AND CAPTION: UNAC/UHCP nurses joined in AFSCME’s national campaign to make house calls to the American public and educate them about the health care reform legislation being considered in Congress.
In early October, several UNAC/UHCP Registered Nurses traveled to Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Little Rock, Arkansas and Fargo, North Dakota to make door-to-door “house calls” in an effort to educate residents about health care… Read more
SFRNA Nurses Stand Up for Freedom to Form Unions – February 06, 2009
UNAC nurses–including SFRNA’s own Scott Byington–and staff members marched and rallied in the pouring rain on February 5th to show support for the Employee Free Choice Act, which will give working people the right to choose to join a union by signing cards, establish stronger penalties against employers who violate the rights of employees trying to form a union or negotiate their first contract, and will provide mediation and arbitration for first-contract disputes.… Read more
Members Make Contract Strides at St. Francis, Kaiser
UNAC/UHCP members are making terrific strides in contract negotiations. The bargaining team from the St. Francis Registered Nurses Association won a strong new contract that includes across-the-board wage increases, new resources to help nurses further upgrade their skills and education, and the creation of a new category rewarding nurses who earn a master’s degree. SFRNA members ratified the three-year agreement on September 9.
Meanwhile, negotiators from the Coalition of Kaiser Permanente Unions and Kaiser reached… Read more
Board of Registered Nursing is Restored
Governor Jerry Brown announced late Tuesday he signed Senate Bill 98, the legislation reconstituting the California Board of Registered Nursing (BRN). The entire board will be reappointed under the new bill.
Beverly Hospital Nurses Launch “Demand Quality Care”
We Demand Quality Health Care at Beverly Hospital
Affiliate Officers
