Lakeport >> Sutter Lakeside registered nurses have voted to approve new collective bargaining contracts joining their Sutter colleagues in Auburn, Roseville, Santa Rosa, and Tracy in new union contracts that will provide significant economic gains and protect nurses and patient standards.
The Sutter RNs, represented by the California Nurses Association/National Nurses United, have engaged in rallies, strikes, and other coordinated actions over the past two years pressing for fair new contracts, and opposing demands for broad cuts in current standards, notably in health coverage, which Sutter has withdrawn.
Sutter Lakeside RNs approved their latest contract agreement on Dec. 30. The pact covers 140 RNs, part of more than 7,000 Sutter RNs represented by CNA at Sutter hospitals.
At Sutter Lakeside, after 20 months of bargaining, RNs will each earn a 16 percent wage increase over four years along with improvements in dental and vision health coverage, and in long term disability benefit. As in other CNA-Sutter negotiations, they also succeeded in winning withdrawal of management demands for contract cuts, especially in health coverage.
“As a bargaining team member, I experienced firsthand how we, the union, fought to ensure good benefits, safe patient care conditions, and solid wages for me and my colleagues. I am a proud union nurse who believes that having a contract that addresses the stability of our workforce for the next four years will be positive for our community,” said Sutter Lakeside RN Yvette Neil.
