(Los Angeles) Registered nurses at Good Samaritan Hospital have overwhelmingly voted to ratify a new three-year contract, The California Nurses Association/National Nurses United (CNA/NNU) announced.

The agreement—impacting around 540 Good Samaritan RNs—includes contract protections for nurses to advocate for improved patient care, as well as wage and benefit improvements to enhance recruitment and retention at the hospital.

“We’re so proud that nurses stood up and fought for this new agreement, which leaves us in a much better position to retain experienced nurses and to provide safe, quality care for our patients,” said Sussette Nacorda, RN.

Contract highlights include:

• Expansion of the Professional Practice Committee (PPC). This independent committee of direct care RNs elected by their peers monitors patient care conditions at the hospital and meets with hospital officials to discuss patient care concerns. The new contract expands the number of direct care nurses involved in the PPC, strengthening their voice in advocating for their patients.
• No healthcare/retirement takeaways. RNs succeeded in persuading hospital officials to withdraw demands for huge out of pocket increases in their health coverage and retirement plan. According to Narcoda, “Nurses are by our patients’ sides when they enter the world, and when they leave it. This contract now ensures that we, the caregivers, can be cared for in turn—and have a dignified retirement, after years of lifesaving service.”
• Improved wages. Wage increases of up to 20 percent within the next 3 years begin to reduce pay disparities with other nearby hospitals, helping to retain the most experienced nurses for the community.

“Nurses spoke up, on behalf of our patients, and this contract is a big victory,” said Milton Maristela, RN. “It shows that when we can work together, we can uphold the kind of healthcare that our community deserves.”

The new contract will be in effect through November, 2018.