WATSONVILLE >> Nurses and representatives at Watsonville Community Hospital reached a tentative agreement at 11 p.m. Tuesday, averting a two-day nurses strike scheduled to begin Wednesday morning.

After a long dispute with the hospital, nurses were able to address staffing concerns, “achieve economic improvements” and obtain protection of their health coverage, according to a statement released by the California Nurses Association.

“I am very proud of the nurses who have worked hard — and the friends, family and neighbors who rallied around them — to win these key staffing issues at our hospital. This victory is about nurses being able to provide care to patients in our community,” said Watsonville registered nurse Jennifer Holm. “As a nurse, it is necessary that we continue the fight to make sure patients are the No. 1 priority in these national for-profit hospitals.”

Nurses cited unsafe staffing, retaliation and poor treatment of nurses, and the overall effects of national hospital chain Quorum Health Corp. putting profits before patients as primary reasons for the threatened strike.

“Respectful discussion and productive negotiations this week led to a mutually acceptable tentative agreement,” said Cindy Weigelt, public information officer for Watsonville Community Hospital. “We look forward to working with our nurses to continue to provide high quality, compassionate care to our community.”

Negotiations primarily occurred between the California Nurses Association and corporate representatives from Quorum Health, the subsidiary of Community Health Systems that acquired Watsonville Community Hospital in August, according to Vanessa Sylvester of the California Nurses Association.

Sylvester said more details of the agreement will be released after it is presented to the nurses and they vote on its ratification.

“Our bargaining team is recommending the tentative agreement,” said California Nurses Association representative Vanessa Sylvester. “All of the nurses will participate in a vote on Friday.”

Sylvester said the California Nurses Association will release a statement shortly after the poll closes at 6 p.m. Friday.

Original Post: https://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2016/06/22/18787897.php