Registered nurses and caregivers at Palomar Health in Escondido and Poway, Calif., have reached tentative contracts with hospital management, according to a June 21 news release from the unions that represent them.
The tentative contracts cover about 1,300 nurses represented by the California Nurses Association and about 1,700 ancillary caregivers represented by the CNA-affiliated Caregivers and Healthcare Employees Union.
Union members reached the tentative deals with Palomar Health on June 21 after voting on June 7 and 8 to authorize a walkout and officially issuing a strike notice June 13. With tentative agreements in place, a strike planned for June 23 is averted.
In a statement shared with Becker's, Palomar Health President and CEO Diane Hansen said, "We value our employees and want to make sure they have every opportunity to be heard and voice their concerns. We have worked diligently to ensure the best possible outcomes for both parties and remain committed to making beneficial progress. We are proud to have reached an agreement that our team can stand behind and be happy with."
Union representatives said the new tentative agreements are pending ratification and that members say they look forward to sharing details about the new contracts and how they address issues such as staffing as well as recruiting and retaining workers.