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SEIU Nurses are proud of our track record and all that we've accomplished to help the public health care system win wages, benefits and laws that help the whole health care team. But it’s not just our future we’re fighting for - we're fighting for the future of our patients and communities.
Currently, Local 521 Nurses are heading to Sacramento to let our legislators know how budget cuts could affect our programs and our communities. Across the board cuts won't work; our nurses are fighting for new revenue streams and smart budgeting.
SEIU NURSES FOUGHT TO:
Win strong Union Contracts With Record Raises
In Kern County, SEIU Nurses secured 9 to 15 percent raises in their last contract. In Santa Cruz County, public health nurses won parity and COLA increases totaling 18 to19 percent. At Natividad Medical Center in Monterey County, nurses won 10 percent raises and a 5 percent increase between steps in their last contract, plus a 4 percent COLA this year.
SEIU NURSES FOUGHT TO:
Win Nurse-Patient Ratios in California
SEIU Nurses led the fight to establish nurse-patient ratios. SEIU nurses continue to pioneer ways to enforce ratios in public hospitals, ways to correct violations and improve recruitment and retention of public hospital nurses within Local 521.
SEIU NURSES FOUGHT TO:
Win Safe Needle Legislation Across the Country
SEIU Nurses secured the passage of safe needle legislation first in California and then helping win similar legislation at the federal level.
SEIU NURSES:
Initiated Safe Staffing Study
Working with the SEIU Nurse Alliance of California, nurses up and down the state are helping conduct research to evaluate and improve California’s staffing ratio law. Dr. Jean Ann Seago, a UCSF research scientist and RN, will be the lead researcher on the study. Join our research project by collecting data for your unit/shift — and the campaign to make staffing ratios work for patients:
 Nursing Alliance Staffing Survey
SEIU NURSES FOUGHT TO:
Pass Health Care Legislation for All Californians
Though legislation did not pass, SEIU nurses from all over Local 521 lobbied legislators in Sacramento and in their home districts to pass health care reform for all Californians.
SEIU Nurse Alliance of California
The SEIU Nurse Alliance of California is a leading voice for RNs in California and is part of the Service Employees International Union® (SEIU), the largest and fastestgrowing health care union in the nation, with 1.9 million members. More than 90,000 RNs are part of the National SEIU Nurse Alliance. Of these, more than 35,000 registered nurses who work in both public and private sector health systems and in a variety of settings, from community-based public health programs, to acute care, to corrections and mental health, are part of the California Nurse Alliance of SEIU.
Visit the web site
Download the brochure
Links to issues you care about
• Safe staffing
• Higher Pay means better recruitment and retention
• Board of Registered Nursing
• Renewing your license |
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"We just got one of the best contracts in ages and we did it without having to go on strike."
LornaJean Buchanan, RN
Santa Cruz Co. Health Services Agency
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"In Kern County, with the help of SEIU, we’ve been able to achieve an unprecedented contract with better wages and better inequity adjustments than we have ever seen in my 22 years with KMC."
Carmen Cruise, RN
Kern Medical Center
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"In our last contract, we fought for salaries comparable to other counties our size and won. We have the strength we need banding together with other County employees. Our strength is in our numbers and our strength is in SEIU."
Lee Fitzsimmons, RNC
Santa Cruz Co. Health Services Agency
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"We in Tulare County are new to Local 521, but a lot of people feel really positive this year that the County is listening to us. We feel we’re going to get a good contract."
Janet Baker, RN
California Children’s Services
Tulare County Health & Human Services Agency
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"Nurses at Natividad won a 14 percent raise in our last SEIU contract. SEIU Local 521 has been there when I need them. They have gone far and beyond what I expected them to do for me."
Elena Norina, RN
Natividad Medical Center
Monterey County
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Take Action Now
 Stop Cuts to Public Health Programs Governor Schwarzenegger has proposed cuts to the Department of Public Health Budget that would devastate several programs, and compromise California’s public heath system by cutting staff positions on the state, county and city level.
Send your petition online >>
 Go to Sacramento to help preserve funding for public health care
Nurse Lobby Day - June 11
 Tell the CNA: Silencing Nurses Voices Is Not a Victory.
Send your petition online >>
For more information, click here or visit www.shameoncna.com.
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