Adventist Health Nurses Secure Contract Enhancing Safety and Retention

Registered Nurses Secure New Contract to Enhance Safety and Retention

Registered nurses at Adventist Health Lodi Memorial (AHLM) in Lodi, California, have successfully ratified a new four-year contract, as announced by the California Nurses Association/National Nurses United (CNA/NNU). This marks a significant achievement for the nurses, who have been advocating for improved patient safety and better nurse retention strategies.

The agreement is the first union contract at AHLM, concluding efforts that began during the Covid-19 pandemic. These efforts included a union election in March 2023 and an informational picket planned for October 2024.

“This has been a wild journey,” stated Allison Silva, RN, from the emergency department. “Who would have thought, when we started the whispers of a union almost four years ago, that we would make it here? I am very proud of what we have accomplished in this contract. Nurses organized to demand that Lodi stop putting profits over the lives and safety of our patients and the community, and this contract is an important step toward that goal.”

The contract introduces several crucial measures, including:

• New workplace violence protections, allowing nurses to request alternative patient assignments if their safety is at risk.
• A Professional Practice Committee, controlled by staff RNs, with the power to document unsafe practices and implement changes.
• Competitive wage increases and enhanced benefits aimed at retaining and attracting nursing staff.
• A grievance procedure to formally address issues with management, supported by union representatives.
• New health and safety protocols, including the provision of personal protective equipment to curb the spread of communicable diseases.

This contract will be effective from June 4, 2025, to June 3, 2029, covering over 400 nurses at Adventist Health Lodi Memorial. The CNA represents more than 100,000 members across California and more than 225,000 RNs nationwide.

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