The California Nurses Association/National Nurses United has reached an agreement with Prime Healthcare that nurses say features a commitment to preserve hospital services and labor standards at four California hospitals currently operated by the Daughters of Charity Health System in the event those hospitals are acquired by Prime.

O’Connor Hospital in San Jose, Saint Louise Regional Hospital in Gilroy, Seton Medical Center in Daly City, and St. Vincent Medical Center in Los Angeles are covered by the agreement. The Daughters of Charity announced its intention to sell the hospitals to Prime today.

Nurses have held rallies and spoken out publicly demanding that the hospitals be maintained and kept open for their patients.  “Prime Healthcare represents the best option to preserve vital healthcare services in our community,” said Maria Canonizado, an O’Connor Hospital RN. “Prime has committed in writing to operate these vital hospitals in our communities.”

Nurses at the hospitals have advocated for months that any transaction meet a core set of principles. The agreement addresses those principles, including:

1. Prime healthcare will acquire all the Daughters of Charity hospitals and operate them for a minimum of five (5) years.
2. Prime has agreed to keep all pension promises made to current and future retirees.
3. Prime has committed that it has no intention of reducing services nor taking actions that might place such services at risk.
4. CNA and Prime have reached a framework agreement ensuring labor peace, respecting collective bargaining rights, preserving jobs, and maintaining labor standards in the event Prime acquires the hospitals.

“After two years of uncertainty, it is time to move forward,” said Saint Louise RN Donna Fischer. “Any delay or attempt to interfere with the sale right now puts vital hospital services, jobs, and the health of our communities at risk. “

“With this agreement, we have ensured a smooth transition and a solid foundation we can stand upon when advocating for patients in the future,” said Seton RN Osha Atogwe.

“Nurses are relieved for our community that we could reach a binding agreement with Prime that aims to continue serving our patients for years to come,” said Nella Manaytay, RN.  “We will always be there to advocate for our patients.”