Registered nurses at Enloe Health in Chico, Calif., voted overwhelmingly in favor of ratifying a new four-year contract on Monday, Nov. 18, winning protections to improve patient safety and nurse retention, announced California Nurses Association/National Nurses United (CNA/NNU) today.

“Through the solidarity of Enloe nurses, along with the support of the community, we were able to secure language that will ensure that a balance of skills and experience is maintained in the hospital,” said Kelsey Norton, RN in the radiology unit. “Winning workplace protections, adequate staffing, and competitive compensation will improve patient safety through better recruitment and retention of nurses.”

Highlights of the contract include: 

• Workplace violence protections
• Meal and break relief nurse staffing for all units
• Infectious disease protections for RNs and the community
• Natural disaster protections
• 18% across the board wage increases over 4 years
• No takeaways, including preserving healthcare costs for four years

"The majority of Enloe nurses live and work in this community," said Lisa Ceynowa, RN in the medical neurology unit. "Our patients are our family members, neighbors, fellow parents, and kids. We want to be able to give the absolute best care to all of our loved ones and, with all the improvements in this contract, we believe nurses will be closer to having the resources, conditions, and staffing to do so." 

The new pact covers the period January 2024 to January 2028. CNA represents nearly 1,100 nurses at Enloe Health.

California Nurses Association/National Nurses United is the largest and fastest-growing union and professional association of registered nurses in the nation with more than 100,000 members in more than 200 facilities throughout California and nearly 225,000 RNs nationwide.