Union backs Mass. vote on nurse staffing levels

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BOSTON — A union representing Massachusetts nurses is pushing a ballot initiative designed to set limits on the number of patients that can be assigned to a nurse at any one time.
NewsObserver.com

U.S. District judge: BCH must negotiate Hospital could be slapped with fines if not compliant

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After more than a year-long failure to reach an initial contract, a U.S. District judge has ruled Barstow Community Hospital must bargain with its registered nurses’ representative or potentially face fines. A 10(j) injunction was levied against BCH last week and comes on the heels of a temporary restraining order issued against the hospital June 24. The two sides — Community Health System-backed BCH and the California Nurses Association union — have been at an impasse since the CNA was certified in June of last year as the RN’s exclusive representative for the purposes of collective bargaining.
Desert Dispatch

Ventura RNs Sound Alarm on Patient Care Conditions at County Health System

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Nurses in trauma units working up to nine short while executives given 10% Raises. Registered Nurses who work throughout the Ventura County have taken a vote of “no confidence” in the health systems administration leadership in a week-long vote conducted throughout the county’s various healthcare facilities. The 800 RNs and other caregivers are represented by the California Nurses Association/National Nurses United.
California Nurses Association
Aug 6, 2013

International Nurse News Round-up

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See a collection of links to news stories about nurses in other nations, and how they are advocating for their patients in Peru, Israel, Brazil, New Zealand, and Argentina.
Global Nurses United

To Protect Patients and Improve Care, Massachusetts Nurses File Ballot Initiative for Safer Staffing

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CANTON, Mass. — In response to deteriorating patient care conditions in the state’s acute care hospitals the Massachusetts Nurses Association/National Nurses United (MNA/NNU) announced today that it is filing a ballot initiative, the Patient Safety Act, that would dramatically improve patient safety in Massachusetts hospitals by setting a safe maximum limit on the number of patients assigned to a nurse at one time, while also requiring hospitals to adjust nurses’ patient assignments based on the specific needs of the patients.
Massachusetts Nurses Association/NNU
Aug 5, 2013

Federal Court Issues Sweeping Order for RNs Against Barstow Hospital

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Third major lawsuit filed by government against a Community Health Services hospital for illegal labor practices since April. A U.S. District Judge in Los Angeles Monday issued a federal injunction against Barstow Hospital ordering it to cease and desist its flagrant violations of the collective bargaining rights of its registered nurses. The injunction follows a restraining order issued against Barstow in June.
California Nurses Association
Aug 2, 2013

THIS WEEK IN AMERICA: August 2, 2013

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A weekly report by NNU on the pulse of Almeria: Banks Take Homes from Millions. Threats to Food Stamps Continue. Losing Ground in the U.S. A Call for an Investigation of top economist Lawrence Summers.
National Nurses United

NURSE TALK RADIO: Victory for Northern Calif. Sutter RNs

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Recently, a federal administrative law judge with the National Labor Relations Board handed nurses a victory, finding Sutter Hospitals in the San Francisco Bay Area engaged in illegal “unfair labor practices” when it unilaterally cut paid sick leave and eliminated all paid healthcare coverage for RNs who work less than 30 hours per week, affecting hundreds of nurses and their families.
Nurse Talk Radio

Nurses File for Election to Join CNA at Providence Little Company of Mary, Torrance

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Registered nurses at Providence Little Company of Mary, Torrance filed for an election with the National Labor Relations Board July 30, 2013 to join the California Nurses Association/National Nurses United (CNA/NNU). The NLRB will then determine a date to hold a federally supervised secret ballot election for the nurses. The nurses submitted a sufficient number of signed union cards (30%) to trigger the process for setting the election for the approximately 725 RNs.
California Nurses Association
Aug 1, 2013

Nurses Join Massive Protest on Anniversary of Chevron Richmond Refinery Fire Saturday

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Cite climate change and toxic tar sand as number one danger to public’s health. Richmond, CA—Registered nurses will join a broad and growing number of labor, environmental, and community organizations in one of the largest climate justice events in recent history on Saturday, the first-year anniversary of the catastrophic explosion and fire whose massive vapor cloud nearly killed 19 workers and sent 15,000 Richmond residents to local hospitals.
California Nurses Association
Jul 31, 2013