Dear SEIU Local 121RN Members,

Earlier this year, we sent you a 2017 Report of Accomplishments, listing out all our *BIG* 2017 victories, such as new Union Job Contracts worth $79 Million in wage increases, the passage of our Whistleblower Protection bill, and more!

I don't want to make you wait for next year's book to find out what RNs and other Healthcare Professionals have been up to so far in 2018. Check out what's been happening at SEIU Local 121RN...

We grew!

On May 23, 2018, RNs at Glendora Community Hospital formed their union with us with an overwhelming **YES!** vote! Welcome to our newest SEIU Local 121RN members! Read more >>> here.

We're in Contract Negotiations—a lot of them!

2018 is a big year for 121RN members at 13 hospitals throughout Southern California who are currently or will soon be bargaining their next Union job contract. It’s important to remember that our hospitals don’t offer good jobs—we fight for good jobs at the bargaining table. Our Union job contracts guarantee in writing all the terms of our employment, including staffing levels, our pay, benefits, hours, seniority and working conditions.

Here's where we're currently (or soon will be) in contract negotiations:

DIGNITY INFUSION CENTERS WIN FIRST CONTRACT Some of our newest members—the RNs at Dignity Infusion Centers—just ratified their first contract. It took threatening to S-T-R-I-K-E to get management’s attention! Read more >>> here. JOHN F. KENNEDY MEMORIAL HOSPITAL We’ve had 14 bargaining sessions so far, and we finally see some positive movement from management. Click >>> here for updates!

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA HOSPITAL AT HOLLYWOOD We are bargaining our first Union contract after forming our Union last year. Our Bargaining Team has reached Tentative Agreement on many contract articles so far. We remain united and strong! Follow this campaign for our first Union contract >>> here.

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA HOSPITAL AT VAN NUYS Like our sister Union in Hollywood, we’re also bargaining our first Union contract. We voted last year to be a part of SEIU Local 121RN. Our Bargaining Team brought a whopping 19 proposals to our very first bargaining session with management. We’ve reached Tentative Agreement on several key articles, including establishing a Labor Management Committee where we meet face-to-face with top hospital decision makers on a regular basis. Our colleagues on our Bargaining Team, with the support of all of us at the hospital, are very focused on our goals! Follow this campaign for our first Union contract >>> here.

PROVIDENCE TARZANA MEDICAL CENTER Our Bargaining Team held several preparation meetings prior to our first day of negotiations to ensure our S-T-R-E-N-G-T-H at the table. We have reached tentative agreement on about a third of our contract. Let's stay united and support our Bargaining Team! Read more >>> here.

ENCINO HOSPITAL MEDICAL CENTER We started getting ready last year, so we're ahead of the game! After several months of stalling, hospital management finally agreed to our first bargaining dates: August 28 and 29. Stay tuned for a bargaining update; watch our web page >>> here.

SIERRA VISTA BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CENTER Our Bargaining Team showed up prepared and ready to go at the first bargaining session in June. The result? We’ve already reached Tentative Agreement on much of our contract, including hours, subcontracting out our work and bereavement leave. Stay tuned for more updates >>> here.

KAISER MORENO VALLEY Management is stalling and using strongarm tactics in our efforts to bargain over our National Agreement. Kaiser walked away from our Partnership earlier this year and made clear that it seeks to eliminate jobs and roll back job security. Back in May, we (as part of the Partnership) filed Unfair Labor Practice charges against Kaiser and later we participated in an informational picket demanding that Kaiser sit down and negotiate with us. Management continues its stall tactics by making unreasonable demands. Keep updated >>> here.

GLENDORA COMMUNITY HOSPITAL After just forming our union earlier this year, we're ready to bargain our first contract—and to have our pay, benefits and working conditions guaranteed in writing for the first time! To say RNs are ready to bargain is an understatement: 11 of us accepted nominations for two Bargaining Team seats! That’s some serious participation. (And all the other RNs of SEIU Local 121RN are sending strong, positive UNION vibes for a solid first contract!) Follow this first contract campaign >>> here.

LATER THIS YEAR… RNs at PACIFICA HOSPITAL OF THE VALLEY (follow this campaign >>> here), PROVIDENCE ST. JOSEPH MEDICAL CENTER (follow >>> here), KINDRED SOUTH BAY (follow >>> here) and DIGNITY ST. JOHN’S (follow >>> here) also expect to begin bargaining their next Union job contracts.

Other Happenings...

NURSES AT ST. JOSEPH SOUND THE ALARM ON STAFFING CUTS On July 17, RNs spoke out at a Burbank City Council meeting to sound the alarm on the hospital’s unsafe staffing levels. Recently—and suddenly—hospital management cut critical shifts. Check out the news coverage >>> here.

MORONGO, ATD, LOBBY/MEDIA TRAININGS RNs flocked to Morongo Casino in April for our "Safe Practice is a Winner!" conference, offering 16 CEUs. In February and then again in May, we held a 4-hour training to help RNs prepare to speak out on our safe staffing legislation to lawmakers and the media. Then in July, we offered 6 FREE CEUs in our Aerosol Transmissible Diseases Protection Class.

We had fun celebrating Nurses Week!

Throughout the month of May and at our hospitals all across Southern California, we shared food, had some fun, won some gift baskets and got prepared for Union contract bargaining at half our hospitals in 2018! Check out our photo album from these events >>> here.

We continue our fight for good Nursing laws

We UNITE to protect patients and nurses in today's rapidly changing, corner-cutting world of healthcare and politics. In addition to our contracts, passing California legislation (and electing leaders who side with patient safety over hospital profits) is one of the most powerful ways we can bring the changes we want to see in our hospitals. Together over the years, SEIU RNs introduced and successfully fought for passage of Whistleblower Protection, Workplace Violence Protection, Hospital Patient and Healthcare Worker Injury Protection Act, Aerosol Transmissible Diseases Cal/OSHA Standard, Nurse-to-Patient Ratios and Needle Safety laws.

SAFE STAFFING BILL, SB 1288 This year, we are working to pass our “Stop Repeat Offender Hospitals” bill, SB 1288, which will put some real teeth into California’s regulations on safe nurse-to-patient ratios. Read why Nurses are speaking out:

READ KATHY'S STORY	READ JOYCE'S STORY
READ ALVIN'S STORY	READ YOLANDA'S STORY

The bill has already made it through the State Senate; now we’re working our way through the Assembly. Follow the progress of this bill >>> here.

WORKPLACE VIOLENCE Our Workplace Violence law went into effect April 1st. With these regulations, violence is no longer considered “Just part of the job.” Click >>> here to let our Stewards and our Union Rep/Organizers know what’s happening at our hospitals. Let’s work together to enforce this law we fought for!

HEALTHCARE HEROES In June, Nurses all over California helped make sure Dr. Ed Hernandez made it onto the November ballot for Lt. Governor. This was a giant step toward statewide leadership for one of California’s greatest healthcare champions. Read more >>> here.

We also supported other Healthcare SUPER****heroes, like the author of our “Stop Repeat Offender Hospitals” bill, Senator Connie Leyva, the bill's Co-author Assemblymember Miguel Santiago and the author of last year's successful Whistleblower Protection bill Assemblymember Freddie Rodriguez. We will continue to work to get these patient and Nurse champions elected in November. Stay tuned!

LEGISLATIVE AWARDS RECOGNITION DINNER In April, we honored the RNs and healthcare Professionals of SEIU Local 121RN who fought so hard to pass our Whistleblower Protection bill in 2017. We also recognized three healthcare champions, Assemblymember Freddie Rodriguez, the bill's author; Senator Connie M. Leyva, who authored this year's "Stop Repeat Offender Hospitals" bill; and Senator Dr. Ed Hernandez, Chair of the Senate Health Committee. Check out pictures of this event >>> here.

FACE-TO-FACE WITH ELECTED LEADERS AND CANDIDATES At our "Meet'n'Greet" events and Town Halls, RNs had many opportunities so far in 2018 to meet with those already in elected office and others seeking our "Nurse-Powered Politics" endorsement. See pictures >>> here from the events this year.

We’ve been making some noise!

WOMEN'S MARCH In January, we marched and provided First Aid to other marchers. We brought our NURSE POWER out into the community to speak loud and clear for patient and nurse safety. We showed that Nurses will not be silenced by Big, Corporate, Wall Street Hospital CEOs!

"TOGETHER WE RISE" RALLY In February, we rallied at County USC Medical Center to show our Union Strength in the face of billionaire bosses who want to divide us and weaken our union. Basically, it's not "in their business plan" to give us a say in our pay and working conditions.

We rallied to say…

• We're proud of the work we do caring for patients.
• We use our collective voice every day to improve patient and nurse safety.
• And we continue to make progress...through our Union contracts with our hospitals and through state and federal legislation we’ve introduced.
• We won't let the billionaire "bosses" stop our progress!

Click >>> here to learn more about how the U.S. Supreme Court recently came down on the wrong side of history in their decision in Janus v. AFSCME. As a result of this court case, the rich and powerful “bosses” of this country will try to further rig our healthcare system, hospitals, and communities in their favor and put one more roadblock in the way of those of us who stand up for patient safety and good union jobs. Leading up to and after that anti-worker Supreme Court decision, RNs from all across Southern California stood up to say they're #UnionStrong! Together...#WeRise! Check out the great photos of all our RNs >>> here. And learn more >>> here.

MAY DAY MARCH We marched in the *RAIN* for patient safety on International Workers' Day! RNs on TV: we got a lot of press coverage—check it out >>> here!

In unity, Gayle Batiste, RN, CNOR President, SEIU Local 121RN