Hundreds of registered nurses at Providence Saint John’s Health Center in Santa Monica voted overwhelmingly to ratify a new three-year contract, union officials said Saturday.
The vote took place Friday night.
“We now have a contract that will make it easier to recruit and retain experienced nurses. This is essential to patient safety,” said Liz Wade, an RN in the labor and delivery unit and a member of the negotiating team. “Expanded education for nurses will ensure that we stay current with new developments.”
The California Nurses Association/National Nurses United said the contract includes the following elements:
— Expanded tuition eligibility and reimbursement programs that include per diem RNs for the first time and increased paid education time.
— Staffing improvements, including language to address break relief needs and staffing concerns for specific departments.
— Maintaining existing equity and inclusion provisions, including agreement to fight racial injustice and health care disparities within the community and a commitment to a workplace free from racism and unlawful discrimination.
— Economic gains and health benefit protections to help retain and recruit experienced nurses, including increases to all the differentials for weekends, nights, evenings, preceptor pay, and more; 100% match contributions for 401(k) plans, and no takeaways to contractually negotiated benefits.
Representatives for the hospital did not immediately respond to a request for comment Saturday.