St. Joseph Health System, Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital Nurses Reach Tentative Contract Agreement
St. Joseph Health System and the Staff Nurses Association, a union representing the 550 nurses at Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital, have reached a tentative contract agreement that eliminates the possibility of a strike next week, the Santa Rosa Press Democrat reports. The agreement, which nurses were scheduled to vote on this week, calls for an average 16% pay increase over the two-year contract. The proposed contract would also raise per diem rates for nurses working without benefits and increase the pay for working extra shifts. It would also change health benefits and increase the hospital system's retiree health insurance contributions. The union last week said it would strike on Oct. 7 and Oct. 8 to call attention to what it called a "lack of progress" in contract negotiations. This week's vote will either ratify the contract or authorize a strike, for which the union would have to file 10-days advance notice (Rose, Santa Rosa Press Democrat, 10/2).
This is part of the California Healthline Daily Edition, a summary of health policy coverage from major news organizations. Sign up for an email subscription.