Hospital Strike Canceled As Kaiser Permanente Nurses Reach Contract Deal

The union that represents about 18,000 Kaiser Permanente nurses in Northern and Central California says it has reached a tentative contract with the medical provider and canceled a 2-day strike planned for next week at 86 hospitals and clinics.

The California Nurses Association said the agreement announced Saturday will increase the pay for registered nurses and nurse practitioners by 14 percent over three years. RNs will also receive larger pension contributions.

The union says the settlement hinged on Kaiser agreeing to set up a committee to address patient care and workplace safety concerns the nurses have raised. The concerns include restrictions on patient admissions, early discharges, and insufficient training and equipment.

Union members still must ratify the contract.

National Nurses United Executive Director RoseAnn DeMoro says the favorable terms of the agreement could help improve working conditions for nurses elsewhere in the U.S.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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