Voice and Respect

“I have witnessed the amazing results that come with 13,000 RNs bargaining collectively and speaking in one voice. Nurses from 32 Catholic Healthcare West hospitals stood together to protect our communities and our patients. Our unity was essential in creating a new national standard for H1N1 and communicable disease prevention in our hospitals and in our communities.”

Sandy Reding, RN
Bakersfield Memorial Medical Center — Bakersfield, California

“Before we secured a ban on mandatory overtime in our contract, an RN who had regularly worked nights and days was told at shift’s end that she could not leave. The nurse broke into tears and the Human Resources director who had given the order took her into a room for a meeting. As the RN’s nurse representative, I went along. When I spoke up the HR person told me I was not allowed to talk and if I continued it would be insubordination. When I continued he took my badge and said I was suspended. When I was called to a meeting, 25 other nurses went along to represent me. I was reinstated. We continued our opposition to mandatory overtime, talking about it in meetings, distributing leaflets about it in front of the hospital, and raising it in negotiations, and eventually we won.

Malinda Markowitz, RN, CNA ­Council of Presidents
Good Samaritan Hospital — San Jose, California

“Before CNA, we could be floated a second time mid-shift. This magnified all the problems with unsafe floating. With our CNA contract, we put an end to double floating. We also guaranteed that nurses cannot be floated outside their clusters.”

Myrna Valmeo, RN
Glendale Memorial Medical Center — Glendale, California

“Having worked at both union and non-union hospitals, I strongly support MSNA, an affiliate of NNU. The more I see the national climate change regarding healthcare, the less comfortable I am trusting hospitals and management to keep the environment safe. Our MSNA/NNU contract allays my concerns by providing the resources (such as our newly negotiated Professional Practice Committee) and protections that allows me to provide safe care to my patients. RNs now have direct involvement in the working conditions that affect me and my patient.”

HollySue Dobson, RN
The Aroostook Medical Center — Presque Isle, Maine