Good Samaritan Hospital Nurses Ratify Five-Year Contract with Key Wins

Nurses Secure New Contract at Good Samaritan Hospital

In a recent development, registered nurses at HCA’s Good Samaritan Hospital, located in San Jose, California, have voted to ratify a new five-year contract. The California Nurses Association/National Nurses United (CNA/NNU) announced that the agreement introduces crucial measures aimed at enhancing patient safety and retaining nursing staff.

Lydia Vasovich-Gmerek, a registered nurse in the neonatal intensive care unit and the chief nurse representative with the CNA, commented on the achievement, stating, “Thanks to the solidarity of our nurses, our bargaining team was able to accomplish the goals of improving patient safety and the recruitment and retention of nurses.” She highlighted the success in preventing takeaways, expediting grievance resolutions, and bolstering protections against workplace violence and technological replacements. Vasovich-Gmerek emphasized the recognition of nurses' prior acute care experience, including international experience, as a significant outcome of the negotiations, declaring, “This is a contract nurses can be proud of.”

Contract Key Points

The contract features several notable provisions:

• Enhancements to break relief, including a doubling of dedicated break relief nurses.
• Commitment from hospital management for staffing transparency, with the CFO and CEO meeting nurses to explain safe patient staffing ratio calculations.
• Preservation of all benefits and the ability to strike mid-contract over staffing concerns.
• Assurance for 12-hour RNs against mid-shift cancellations.
• Improved scheduling guidelines.
• A streamlined grievance resolution process.
• Strengthened protections against workplace violence and technological replacement.
• Enhanced vacation bidding procedures.
• Increased certification bonuses.
• Potential wage increases of up to 45 percent for some RNs during the contract period.

This new agreement is set to be in effect from July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2030.

John Pasha, a registered nurse in the cardiovascular intensive care unit, expressed satisfaction with the agreement, noting, “We fought hard to ensure we have a good deal that will benefit nurses and patients for years to come.” He also pointed out that the alignment of this contract's expiration with those of 17 other union-represented HCA hospitals nationwide marks a significant victory.

The CNA represents a workforce of over 950 nurses at HCA’s Good Samaritan Hospital in San Jose.

The California Nurses Association/National Nurses United is noted as the largest and fastest-growing union and professional association of registered nurses in the United States, boasting more than 100,000 members across over 200 facilities in California and over 225,000 RNs nationwide.