Nurses In San Ramon Planning 1-Day Strike

SAN RAMON, CA — Registered nurses at San Ramon Regional Medical Center are planning a one-day strike in an effort to persuade management to invest in nursing staff, according to National Nurses United.

The one-day strike scheduled Sept. 20 is expected to take place across Tenet hospitals in Arizona, California and Florida.

“Our absolute priority as nurses is to provide excellent care to our patients. With this strike action we are expressing our unity and commitment to win the conditions that support this goal,” said Janice Ames, RN, one of over 5,500 RNs who work at Tenet hospitals going out on strike.

National Nurses United, the largest union and professional association of registered nurses in the country, announced the strike this week.

The California Nurses Association, the labor union that represents many of California nurses, has been in negotiations with Tenet.

"We have been negotiating in good faith with union representatives over the last few months in an effort to reach a new contract. We are disappointed that the union is taking this approach. We have made progress toward a new contract and will continue to negotiate in hopes of reaching a successful resolution," Tenet said in a released statement.

"We value our relationship with all our employees and we are committed to resolving the contract negotiations. While we respect the nurses’ right to strike, patients and their loved ones can be assured that our patients will continue to be cared for by qualified replacement registered nurses and other caregivers during any strike action.

"We remain focused on providing safe, quality care to our patients,” the statement said.

Nurses at these California facilities are also planning to walk out for the day on Sept. 20:

Joshua Tree: Hi-Desert Medical Center

Los Alamitos: Los Alamitos Medical Center

Modesto: Doctors Medical Center of Modesto

Palm Springs: Desert Regional Medical Center

San Luis Obispo: Sierra Vista Regional Med Center

Templeton: Twin Cities Community Hospital

Turlock: Emanuel Medical Center