Tri-City RNs Settle with Top-Notch First Contract - Big gains in patient care standards, pay

Registered nurses at Tri-City Medical Center in Oceanside have reached agreement with the hospital on a first contract that bring major patient care and economic gains, the California Nurses Association announced today.

The agreement includes between 18 to 20 percent raises over three years, elimination of the subjective merit pay raise system, lift teams to prevent injuries and RN-to-patient staffing ratios in the contract. The 700 RNs at Tri-City in northern San Diego County are voting on the pact in ratification meetings next Tuesday, Dec. 5.

“We are very pleased with what this contract will do for registered nurses, but the biggest winner is our patients,” said Teresa Meyer, RN who works in the operating room and is a member of the CNA nurse negotiating team. “With strengthened nursing practice standards and an all staff-RN Clinical Practice Council, we’ve laid a strong foundation to build real nurse power.  This contract will attract and retain nurses while empowering them as patient advocates – that’s what our patient community needs and deserves.”

Other highlights of the agreement include:

• A staff RN elected Professional Practice Committee that addresses staffing and practice issues and meets in the hospital on paid time
• New "floating" policies to limit the assignment of RNs to units where they do not have appropriate specialty expertise and orientation.
• A 24/7 lift team and commitment to provide a safe working environment which will protect nurses from workplace injuries associated with the handling of patients
• Technology language which provides that prior to implementation, RNs shall have the opportunity to provide input and that the medical center intends to maintain a work environment in which technology supports, but does not override, the RN’s ability to exercise clinical judgment
• No mandatory overtime unless in case of disaster or life-threatening event
• RN-to-patient ratios, including a staffing system based on assessment of patient needs, in conformance with applicable state regulations including AB 394 (the ratio law). Unresolved staffing disputes between nurses and management can be submitted to arbitration for resolution
• Pension in contract
• No call offs unless the unit is “in compliance with state mandated staffing requirements”
• Educational hours, tuition reimbursement, and reimbursement for cost of specialty certification exams
• Increased shift differential and expanded hours paid shift differential
• Increased pay for charge duty
• First-ever preceptor pay
• Additional paid holiday in '08
• Association leave

Tri-City RNs chose to affiliate in December 2005 with CNA, California’s main nurses organization in which now represents all registered nurses in northern San Diego County. CNA also represents RNs at Palomar Medical Center in Escondido and Pomerado Hospital in Poway, part of the Palomar Pomerado Health system, and at Scripps Memorial Hospital in Encinitas.

Bargaining began in April of this year. The new contract expires on  August 31, 2009.

The California Nurses Association/National Nurses Organizing Committee is the largest and fastest growing professional organization for direct-care registered nurses in the nation, representing more than 70,000 RNs in 45 states.