Registered nurses voted by an overwhelming majority to ratify a new contract covering the 600 RNs working at San Joaquin General Hospital and throughout the San Joaquin County Health Service Agency, the California Nurses Association announced today.

RNs say the contract, which runs from January 1, 2016 to December 31, 2018, includes improvements and workplace protections as well as economic gains that will enhance the hospitals ability to retain and recruit RNs after years of significant loss of nursing staff to other hospitals in the region.

"This contract is the result of our collective action to promote the best interests of our patients, who deserve high quality public sector healthcare. We sent the message that it is not acceptable to be short staffed and work under unsafe conditions," said Marilyn Schied, RN. "As nurses working in San Joaquin's public sector we will continue to have a united voice to improve the standard of care and advocate for patient safety and quality care."

"Together we raised our voices and we were heard. With this new contract we can now stop the chronic short staffing and hemorrhaging of nurses," said Julianne Mangilli, RN. "This will be replaced with retention and loyalty so we can make our hospital great again."

" This contract shows that the nurses of San Joaquin County have finally found their voice and their power," said Kelly Mertz, RN.  "With the increases in wages that bring us up to the level of other local hospitals, longevity incentives, guaranteed meal and rest break language, and other improvements to contract language we are hopeful that we will have improved recruitment and retention. This is a huge victory for the nurses and citizens of San Joaquin County." 

Key features in the new pact include staffing improvements to promote patient safety, economic improvements to promote retention of experienced RNs and recruitment of new nurses, and contract language supporting adequate meal and rest breaks.

Highlights of the contract include:

• Safe staffing improvements including: charge nurses will not take a patient assignment assuring they are available to provide assistance and resources when needed.
• Economic gains to help with nurse recruitment and retention that includes raises that average 20 percent and range up to 30 percent over the term of the three-year contract including incentive increases that reward RN years of experience. 
• Improved language guaranteeing meal and rest breaks to support RNs getting adequate rest to avoid the fatigue that causes medical errors and injuries.