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Santa Ana nurses ratify first contract

Submitted by ADonahue on
Six nurses inside, side-by-side, smiling, with raised arms/fists

Win comes months after landslide union victory

By Rachel Berger

National Nurse magazine - July | Aug | Sept 2026 Issue

Registered nurses at Orange County Global Medical Center in Santa Ana, Calif. voted overwhelmingly on Sept. 10, 2026 to ratify their inclusion into the existing union contract covering KPC Health registered nurses represented by California Nurses Association (CNA). This first contract for Orange County Global nurses secures them important new protections to improve patient safety and nurse retention.

Nurses at Orange County Global just voted in June by 91 percent to unionize. 

“Winning our election by 91 percent and our contract ratification by 98 percent really is a testament to the power we have built,” said Aiyana Rudolph, RN in the neuro direct observation unit. “I’m excited to continue this momentum as we fight and win more improvements across the hospital.”  

Highlights of the contract, which covers the period of September 2026 to June 2027, include:  

  • A grievance and arbitration procedure 
  • Professional practice committee composed of direct-care registered nurses to address ongoing workplace issues
  • Job security and layoff rights: To protect nurses in case of reduction in workforce and unit closures 
  • Economic gains to help retain and recruit experienced nurses. The agreement includes an average wage increase of 13 percent, weekend differential, and extra shift bonuses. 
  • No takeaways from existing standards, conditions, and benefits 

Nurses at the 282-bed facility said they voted to join the union because it is critical that nurses have a say in making decisions to help recruit and retain experienced nurses, which leads to improved patient care. Nurses have been struggling to provide care without appropriate staffing, working with frequently broken equipment, and are floated to units outside of their expertise. 

CNA now represents 550 nurses at Orange County Global Medical Center, and across five KPC Health hospitals. The other hospitals include South Coast Global Medical Center in Santa Ana, Anaheim Global Medical Center in Anaheim, Chapman Global Medical Center in Orange, and Hemet Global Medical Center in Hemet. In all, CNA represents some 1,600 KPC Health nurses.