St. Francis Registered Nurses Reach Tentative Settlement with Hospital

September 2011

Today the United Nurses Associations of California (UNAC/UHCP) reached a Tentative Agreement for a new contract for seven hundred Registered Nurses at Saint Francis Medical Center.

On Wednesday, August 31 the St. Francis Registered Nurses notified management that they would begin a three day strike on Monday, September 12. Several key issues remained unresolved after more than four months of negotiations, including safe staffing levels to improve patient care and the fate of the nurses’ pension plan, which is severely underfunded.

Saint Francis management and the United Nurses Associations of California (UNAC/UHCP) resumed negotiations today and late Saturday afternoon reached a Tentative Agreement that will require membership ratification.

“I want to thank all the nurses for fighting for a strong contract that recognizes the importance of safe staffing and securing their retirement,” said Sandi Marques, RN, BSN, MBA, President of the Saint Francis Registered Nurses Association, UNAC/UHCP.

The seven hundred RNs will vote on Thursday, September 8 on whether to accept the Tentative Agreement.