Fremont-Rideout Health Group Registered nurses may strike if they can’t reach a contractual agreement with hospital administrators, according to a California Nurses Association official.

Nurses and hospital administrators have been in labor negotiations since November, which is too long, said union members.

The union is turning to its members to authorize a strike if they feel it becomes necessary. Voting begins today and concludes Thursday. It would give negotiators the authority to call for a strike.

Nurses say patient care, effective nursing recruitment and nursing rights are at stake.

“We really hope it doesn’t come to a situation where we strike,” said Dan Lawson, an organizer for the California Nurses Association. “But the nurses are willing to do so if necessary.”

The hospital group employs more than 2,000 people and 225 doctors. The union says it has 500 nurses in its membership from the health group.

The union plans a demonstration rally from noon to 1 p.m. today in front of the Fremont Medical Center administration building in Yuba City, 949 Plumas St.

Some of things nurses want are to prevent nurses in the pediatrics area from “floating” to cover other undermanned departments, Lawson said. They want nurses only to provide care in areas in which they are competent to do so, he said. Nurses also want to form a professional-practice committee made up of nurses who can communicate problems, needs and concerns to the hospital administration, Lawson said. He said that doesn’t exist now.

“We want a system where the nurses’ voice can be heard,” said Lawson.

The union also claims the hospitals are losing many nurses to better paying jobs at other hospitals.

If a strike should occur, the hospital is ready for it, said Terri Hamilton, chief executive officer of Fremont Rideout Health Group.

“We are thoroughly prepared to continue regular operations at all of our facilities,” Hamilton said in a prepared statement. “We have arranged for additional staffing to assure the highest quality of care is provided for our patients and families.”

Prior to any strike, the union must give the administration 10 days’ notice.

Hospital administrators say one of the primary sticking points between the two groups is the union’s wage demands for an 11 percent across-the-board increase for each year of the contract. That far exceeds the wage increases negotiated by other area hospitals, Hamilton said.

“We know that we must compensate our registered nurses fairly and competitively, and we do provide a substantial benefit package, including health, dental, vision, and both a pension plan and a retirement investment program.” said Hamilton. “But the costs of the union’s wage and benefit proposals are astronomical.”

Hamilton also disputed union claims that nurses are leaving the hospital at higher rate than other area hospitals.

“Contrary to the union’s claims, our turnover rates are right at or in some cases lower than the statewide and regional averages,” stated Hamilton.

Another major issue has been the union’s insistence on union security language that would require every registered nurse to pay union dues or be subject to termination, according to Hamilton.

“We believe each RN should have the right to decide whether to pay union dues without any threat of termination if they decide not to pay,” Hamilton stated.

 

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