Marina del Rey nurses win contract after multiple strikes

By Michelle Morris

National Nurse magazine - Jan | Feb | March 2024 Issue

After multiple strikes, registered nurses at Cedars-Sinai Marina del Rey Hospital in Marina del Rey, Calif., voted in favor of ratifying a new four-year contract on Feb. 16, winning protections to improve patient safety and nurse retention.

“After a long 12 months of bargaining and two historical strikes, nurses have won a contract that we are proud of,” said Sophia Sabido, RN in the case management department. “I’m proud to represent the amazing nurses at Cedars-Sinai Marina del Rey Hospital, who have remained united during this fight.”  

Highlights of the contract include: safeguarding benefits and bargaining rights, maintaining a fair wage structure, and elements that encourage safe staffing and recruitment and retention. The new pact covers the period from March 2023 to March 2027.

Just in December, nurses had held a three-day strike in December 2023 to protest Cedars-Sinai management’s attempts to take away nurses’ bargaining rights. They also previously went on strike on Sept. 6, 2023.

“Ridiculous management demands like these are driving nurses away from our hospital faster than they can replace – even when there are plenty of nurses to fill open positions,” said Cody Kuok, a post-surgical RN and member of the bargaining team. “We hope management addresses our concerns so that the hospital can be safely staffed, now and in the future.”

Cedars-Sinai agreed to the presence of a federal mediator in contract negotiations with CNA nurses. 

Michelle Morris is a communications specialist at National Nurses United.