The following is a roundup of recent events pertaining to hospital-union relationships, including strikes, rallies and new contract agreements. All events were reported within the last two months, beginning with the most recent.
1. Nurses at USC Verdugo Hills Hospital in Glendale, Calif., voted to join the California Nurses Association/National Nurses United, aligning with nurses at other USC hospitals.
2. Members of the United Nurses and Allied Professionals union at Westerly (R.I.) Hospital approved a new three-year contract, which restores some benefits the union conceded when the hospital was placed in receivership in December 2011.
3. A Service Employee International Union representative met with employees at Sunbury (Pa.) Community Hospital in March to discuss the possibility of unionizing. The hospital is owned by Franklin, Tenn.-based Community Health Systems.
4. A scheduled strike at University of California's five hospitals was averted, as UC and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Local 3299 reached a tentative agreement.
5. Nurses at Regina Medical Center in Hastings, Minn., members of the Minnesota Nurses Association, authorized a strike.
6. Marina Del Rey (Calif.) Hospital finalized a contract with the California Nurses Association, effective March 2. It includes wage increases and retention bonuses.
7. Contract negotiations between Sanford Health Bemidji (Minn.) and the Minnesota Nurses Association resumed earlier in March. Negotiations began in November 2013.
8. The Service Employees International Union Healthcare PA is attempting to organize employees at UPMC, the largest employer in the Pittsburgh area.
9. The Service Employees International Union in Oregon agreed to drop five healthcare ballot measures, including one that would cap hospital executive pay and another mandating hospitals publicly post common procedure costs. The union also agreed to meet with Gov. John Kitzhaber, MD, the Oregon Nurses Association and five health systems to improve healthcare in the state.
10. More than a hundred nurses from the New York State Nurses Association rallied in February in front of the state's Department of Health office to support a bill that would establish a minimum nurse-to-patient ratio in New York Hospitals. The Health Care Association of New York State opposes the bill.
11. Nurses at UPMC Altoona (Pa.), members of the Service Employees International Union Healthcare PA, went on a one-day strike in February. The hospital brought in temporary replacement nurses to fill in during the strike, which cost the organization $1.6 million.