Enloe Health Nurses Secure New Contract with Safety and Pay Protections

Enloe Health Nurses Approve New Four-Year Contract

Registered nurses at Enloe Health in Chico, California have voted to approve a new contract that will last four years, as announced by the California Nurses Association/National Nurses United (CNA/NNU). The vote, which took place on Monday, November 18, was in favor of measures aimed at enhancing patient safety and retaining nursing staff.

"Through the solidarity of Enloe nurses, along with the support of the community, we were able to secure language that will ensure that a balance of skills and experience is maintained in the hospital," said Kelsey Norton, a registered nurse in the radiology unit. "Winning workplace protections, adequate staffing, and competitive compensation will improve patient safety through better recruitment and retention of nurses."

Key Contract Features

• Protections against workplace violence
• Nurse staffing for meal and break relief across all units
• Infectious disease safeguards for registered nurses and the community
• Natural disaster preparedness measures
• An 18% wage increase over the four-year period
• No reductions, including maintaining healthcare costs for the duration of the contract

Lisa Ceynowa, a registered nurse in the medical neurology unit, emphasized the community aspect of their work, stating, "The majority of Enloe nurses live and work in this community. Our patients are our family members, neighbors, fellow parents, and kids. We want to be able to give the absolute best care to all of our loved ones and, with all the improvements in this contract, we believe nurses will be closer to having the resources, conditions, and staffing to do so."

The agreement will be in effect from January 2024 through January 2028 and includes nearly 1,100 nurses represented by CNA at Enloe Health.

The California Nurses Association/National Nurses United is recognized as the largest and fastest-growing union and professional association for registered nurses in the United States, with membership exceeding 100,000 in over 200 facilities throughout California and nearly 225,000 nationwide.