BOSTON, Mass — Representatives from the Massachusetts Nurses Association/National Nurses United, along with State Representative Denise Garlick, RN (D-Needham) held a press conference at the State House today to brief reporters on a new law to ban the dangerous practice of mandatory overtime as an alternative to providing safe registered nurse staffing levels in the state’s acute care hospitals. The new law goes into effect on Monday, Nov. 5.

Registered nurses at seven Sutter hospitals in Alameda, Contra Costa, and Solano counties will hold a one-day strike on Thursday, November 1. The walkout is in response to demands by Sutter corporate officials for sweeping reductions in patient care protections and nurses contract standards at these hospitals. The strike will involve about 3,200 RNs as well as several hundred respiratory, X-ray and other technicians. “We have been in negotiations going on 18 months and during this time hospital management has repeatedly misrepresented us as nurses and has shown a lack of respect for the hard working women and men who are the backbone of our hospital,” said Ann Gaebler, an Alta Bates RN. “As staff nurses, we have a responsibility to fight to maintain standards of care for our patients. We cannot allow the erosion to patient care that Sutter's proposed takeaways would represent.”

Leaders of the state’s leading organization of nurses will join a rally and press event for Congressional candidate Dr. Ami Bera Tuesday morning in Elk Grove. The event, which will also include national women’s right advocate Sandra Fluke and Dr. Janine Bera is expected to have a particular focus on women’s health issues.

Representatives from the Massachusetts Nurses Association/National Nurses United, along with State Representative Denise Garlick, RN (D-Needham) will hold a press conference at the State House on Thursday, Nov. 1, to brief reporters on a new law to ban the dangerous practice of mandatory overtime as an alternative to providing safe registered nurse staffing levels in the state’s acute care hospitals. The new law goes into effect on Monday, Nov. 5.

Registered nurses at St. Johns Health Center in Santa Monica showed up in force to ratify their first ever collective bargaining agreement in secret ballot voting Friday and Saturday, the California Nurses Association/National Nurses United announced today.

Affinity Medical Center RNs, along with a growing number of concerned community members, will be holding a second candlelight vigil Friday evening to protest the unjust termination of Ann Wayt, a highly respected orthopedic RN who has worked at the facility for 24 years. Prior to the vigil, nurses and supporters will march in the Beat McKinley parade scheduled for 7 p.m. and then return to the hospital for the candlelight vigil at 8 p.m.