RNs Seek to Strengthen Patient Care at Turlock Hospital

Registered Nurses at Emanuel Medical Center in Turlock, CA voted nearly unanimously Wednesday night to join California’s largest RN union and professional association, the California Nurses Association/National Nurses United.

In a secret ballot election conducted by the National Labor Relations Board, RNs voted 284 to 4, 98 percent, to be represented by CNA/NNOC.

CNA will represent some 400 RNs at the medical center, which is part of the Tenet Healthcare system. Overall, CNA represents about 100,000 RNs in California, part of 150,000 RNs represented by NNU across the U.S.

“As patient advocates, we voted yes to have a collective RN voice to enhance positive patient outcomes at our hospital,” said Chelsey Jerner, an emergency room RN at EMC. “Patient safety is our number one priority.”

“I live and work in the Turlock community and it’s important to me that we raise standards so we can recruit and retain nurses at Emanuel Medical Center. We can’t wait to start bargaining our first contract,” said coronary care RN Erika Peterson.

In seeking to join CNA, the Emanuel RNs said they wanted strengthen patient care delivery, as well as to improve competitive pay and other economic standards.

 CNA Board member Sherri Stoddard, who chairs the union’s Tenet RN council, offered her welcome “to our union family, joining 4,000 RNs at 11 Tenet hospitals throughout the country. We look forward to strengthening our union together.” NNU represents RNs in Florida, Missouri, and Texas in addition to California.

“Welcome aboard,” said CNA Co-President Zenei Cortez, RN. “We are proud of Emanuel RNs for taking this historic step to unite with your RN colleagues as we work together to elevate standards for patients and nurses in California and across the nation.”

Next EMC RNs will elect a team of their colleagues to represent them in talks with hospital officials on a first collective bargaining contract.