LAKEPORT — Sutter Lakeside Hospital administration and the nurses” union reached a tentative contract agreement, the two sides said in separate statements issued Thursday afternoon.
“Our nurses play an integral role in providing patients in our community with quality care. We are very pleased to bring closure to this process and to reach agreement on a new contract for our nurses,” Sutter Lakeside chief administrative officer Siri Nelson said.
The hospital”s statement, which did not describe the new contract terms, indicated the parties struck the deal early Thursday morning.
“The tentative agreement we reached last night for a new contract is a major victory for both nurses and patients of Lake County,” registered nurse (RN) Carrie Roth said in the union”s statement.
The statement released by California Nurses Association/National Nurses United, which represents about 120 RNs at the Lakeport facility, did include comments about specifics of the agreement.
“Major elements of the agreement are significant new patient care protections that are critical to the RNs” ability to provide safe care and include safe patient handling/lift policies, enhanced autonomy of charge RNs to utilize independent professional judgment in accepting patient assignments, including meal and break coverage, and workplace violence protections,” the statement read in part.
Ratification is expected early next week, the union stated. The deal halts the one-day strike previously set for Wednesday.
