Registered nurses at Redwood Memorial Hospital in Fortuna, Ca. today petitioned the federal labor board for an election to join the California Nurses Association/National Nurses United, California’s largest nurses organization.

A secret ballot election, conducted by the National Labor Relations Board, would likely occur later this month. Some 100 RNs work at the hospital.

Redwood Memorial is part of the St. Joseph Health system, a large Catholic health system with hospitals in California and Texas.

CNA already represents SJH RNs at nearby St. Joseph Hospital in Eureka, as well at Petaluma Valley Hospital in Petaluma, Queen of the Valley Medical Center in Napa, and St. Mary Medical Center in Apple Valley. RNs at several other St. Joseph hospitals are also seeking to join CNA.

“RNs at Redwood are excited to join CNA to improve patient care,” said Ashlie Winner, RN, who works in the emergency department at Redwood Memorial.

“Many of our SJHS colleagues are already represented by CNA with strong contract protections, now is the time to join them."

"We have long benefited from the Eureka RNs CNA contract. Recent sweeping benefit cuts to non-union nurses have impacted us and our patients, and proves it is time for us to join CNA," said Redwood Memorial RN Linda Gelphman.

For Redwood Memorial RNs, key concerns are strengthening the voice of bedside RNs to advocate for improved patient care delivery and better standards for RNs.

Those include safe RN staffing ratios, set in a collective bargaining contract, dedicated RNs to assure nurses can safely take meal and rest breaks, lift and transport teams to reduce the risk of nurse injuries and patient falls and accidents, and greater ability to object to unsafe assignments.