Nurses at Ascension Seton Medical Center in Austin, Texas, (ASMCA) this week voted overwhelmingly, with 72 percent in favor, to join the National Nurses Organizing Committee/National Nurses United (NNOC/NNU), the largest nurses’ union in the United States. Nurses said they formed a union to win improved patient care standards and strong contracts, and they have seen NNOC/NNU’s proven track .......
Nurses at Ascension Seton Medical Center in Austin, Texas, (ASMCA) this week voted overwhelmingly, with 72 % in favor, to joInside the Nationwide Nurses Organizing Committee/Nationwide Nurses United (NNOC/NNU), The Most very important nurses’ union in America. Nurses said they shaped a union to win enhanced affected person care requirements And extremely effective contracts, They typically have seen NNOC/NNU’s confirmed monitor doc of doing simply that in Texas and all by way of the nation.
“This victory is Just The start,” said Geovana Hill, a registered nurse Inside the renal unit. “As nurses, we On A daily basis have and On A daily basis will stand dedicated to offering The very Highest extreme quality of care to our affected individuals. We’re wanting forward to bargaining for A great contract To reinforce affected person safety, As properly as to aggressive wages To primarytain Austin nurses working right here in our group. We’re Greater than In a place to win A strong first contract, Which might assist with nursing staff retention.”
ASMCA is now The Most very important private-sector hospital in Texas to type a union.
“We’re so Joyful with the nurses at ASMCA Who’re coming collectively and using their collective power To revenue their group in Austin,” said Jean Ross, RN and NNU president. “All of us Know it is troublesome To rearrange a union, And a few people Might Even be unfamiliar with The advantages of unionization. However I can proudly share that NNOC/NNU has been In a place to safe contract provisions, As properly as to legal guidelines, that enhance the working circumstances for nurses and the affected person care that nurses are In a place to current. ASMCA nurses will be a part of that proud legacy to wrestle For his or her affected individuals in Austin.”
The 800 nurses at ASMCA will be a part of Greater than 2,500 completely different Texas-based mostly members of NNOC/NNU in El Paso, Corpus Christi, and Brownsville. Of their contracts, these NNOC/NNU nurses have safed agreements from their hospitals which mandated stricter enforcement of staffing grids, enhanced an infection administration measures, collectively with a provision requiring single-use optimum safety with a suspected or confirmed Covid-19 affected person. Other notable Texas wins have included wage will enhance of As a lot as 19 % over A 3-yr interval and the creation of a committees To promote variety, equity, and inclusion on race, gender, age, and sexual orientation in hospital recruitment, retention, and promotion.
“We’re thrilled that we gained our union election right here at Ascension Seton Medical Center Austin and get To hitch our fellow union nurses throughout the state in Corpus Christi, El Paso, and Brownsville,” said Taylor Critedon, a registered nurse Inside the intensive care unit. “We hope that extra nurses in Austin will arrange and be a part of us in stopping for The very biggest requirements of care right here Inside the state capital and all by way of Texas.”
Nurses say They’re wanting forward to working with ASMCA To deal with factors Similar to brief-staffing and nursing staff recruitment and retention.
“Through the pandemic, we noticed A lot of staff depart our hospital As a Outcome of of worsening circumstances,” said Matthew Clark, a registered nurse Inside the intensive care unit. “Ascension has Greater than enough money to retain nurses And current extremeer circumstances. We’re excited To make the most of our collective voice to advocate for our affected individuals by stopping for safer staffing and extremeer working circumstances.”
ASMCA is owned by Ascension, Definitely one of many largest non-revenue and Catholic well being methods Inside the nation. In fiscal yr 2021, Ascension reported a internet-income of Greater than $6.4 billion dollars.
Following the ratification of this week’s vote, the nurses at ASCMA will type a bargaining committee And start negotiating A primary contract with the hospital administration.
Nationwide Nurses Organizing Committee is an affiliate of Nationwide Nurses United, The Most very important and quickest-rising union and expert affiliation of registered nurses in America with Greater than 175,000 members nationwide.
