Registered nurses at MarinHealth Medical Center in Greenbrae, Calif., voted overwhelmingly in favor of ratifying a new three-year contract yesterday, March 27, winning protections to improve patient safety and nurse retention announced California Nurses Association/National Nurses United (CNA/NNU).

“Through the solidarity of nurses, we were able to secure one of the strongest contracts we’ve had in years,” said Kathleen Sickert, RN in the emergency unit at MarinHealth.

Highlights of the contract include:

• Health and safety provisions to ensure nurses get the highest level of personal protective equipment, including when caring for patients suspected of having Covid. Nurse participation in a new Infectious Disease Subcommittee.
• Safe staffing provisions, including additional break relief for most units.
• Economic gains and health benefit provisions to help retain and recruit experienced nurses, including no takeaways for health benefits. The agreement includes a 16.5 percent wage increase over three years.

The new agreement covers the period from 2022 to June 30, 2025.

“Nurses have a long way to go to address issues of patient safety in MarinHealth,” said Lynn Warner, RN in the progressive metabolic care unit. “With this new contract, we feel we have better support in our fight.”

CNA represents nearly 600 nurses at MarinHealth Medical Center.

The California Nurses Association/National Nurses United is the largest and fastest-growing union and professional association of registered nurses in the nation with 100,000 members in more than 200 facilities throughout California and nearly 225,000 RNs nationwide.