CASTRO VALLEY, Calif., Aug. 19 /PRNewswire/ -- Eden Medical Center registered nurses represented by the California Nurses Association (CNA) ratified a generous new contract proposal that includes industry-leading wages and benefits, a new commitment to meet the state’s nurse staffing ratios with an all registered-nurse staff, and more scheduling flexibility for nurses.
Nurses voted to approve the contract on Thursday, following an intensive, three-day negotiation session. The union represents 300 registered nurses at the medical center’s Castro Valley campus.
“Our commitment at Eden Medical Center is to provide our registered nurses with competitive pay and benefits, and a work environment that fosters the delivery of the very best care possible,” said Rose Corcoran, Eden’s vice president of patient care services. “We worked hard to reach this agreement and believe it demonstrates our commitment to recruiting and keeping the very best caregivers.”
Under the terms of the new contract, the average full-time registered nurse with four years of experience will earn a base salary of $90,780 to $107,580 per year, depending on which shift is worked, with fully-paid health, vision and dental benefits for nurses and their families, a retirement plan fully funded by the hospital, retiree healthcare benefits, and workplace improvements that support their ability to provide top quality care. Core elements of the new contract include:
-- Wage increases totaling 13% over the next two years. -- $1,000 Ratification bonus for full time nurses. -- Staffing -- EMC has agreed to a goal of meeting the state staffing ratios with an all RN staff, over time. EMC agreed to hire only Registered Nurses into vacant and newly-posted positions and the ultimate goal of assigning all patients in these units to an RN. -- Limit on Use of Traveler RNs. EMC responded to CNAs proposal on the use of travelers to give first priority to hire Eden RN’s into positions and then hire travelers if needed. -- Continued fully-paid health benefits for nurses and families. Well baby care extended to age 3; annual physical exams as part of health plan; improved vision care, including coverage for frames. -- Enhanced Retiree healthcare account, valued at up to $30,000, to help pay for healthcare premiums for nurses and their spouses after retirement. -- Additional 3% wage increases for senior nurses with 25 years of service -- Improved Life Insurance benefits valued up to $105,000
“Eden and our registered nurses are particularly proud of this new commitment to meet the state’s staffing ratios with an all Registered Nurse staff,” said Corcoran. “This historic agreement will continue to make Eden a premier medical center, with the best caregivers, and the best care delivered to our community.”
Eden Medical Center
CONTACT: Cassandra Phelps, Director of Communications of Eden MedicalCenter, +1-510-727-2720
Web site: http://www.sutterhealth.org/
