San Bernardino County supervisors this week approved a two-year agreement with the union representing 1,200 registered nurses employed by the county.

Some 900 members of the bargaining unit work at Arrowhead Regional Medical Center in Colton — the county hospital.

The board on Tuesday approved a two-year agreement with the union expanding the county’s ability to hire experienced nurses and continuing to allow the county to temporarily reassign nurses to meet patient needs and mandated staffing ratios.

“The nurses are excited to come into the agreement...We finally have been able to address recruitment and retention issues,” said Lieu Vo, an ARMC intensive care nurse and bargaining committee member for the California Nurses Association/National Nurses United.

“This agreement shows that the county places great value in our dedicated nurses and recognizes that nurses are an invaluable asset to the county and the community and are key to achieving the countywide vision,” said Chairman James Ramos.

The agreement:

• Restructures the existing salary schedule for the nurses unit.
• Authorizes human resources to adjust salary or rates to maintain equity or prevent undue hardship.
• Provides two, one-time retention incentive payments.

As part of their quest for a new contact, the nurses went on strike for two days in December, forcing county officials to find beds for ARMC patients in hospital facilities across Southern California.

Vo said that that strike was a turning point. Shortly after the strike ended, county officials began serious negotiation talks with the bargaining committee.

“They (county officials) saw the determination and unity nurses showed for the patients and community,” she said.

Original post: http://www.sbsun.com/social-affairs/20150423/san-bernardino-county-supervisors-approve-2-year-agreement-with-nurses-union