The registered nurses at Doctors Hospital Of Manteca have officially joined the California Nurses Association/National Nurses United (CNA/NNU), marking a significant step towards enhancing patient care and nursing advocacy. This decision comes after the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) certified CNA/NNU as their collective bargaining representative, following a resounding vote in favor of unionization.
In a powerful demonstration of unity, 94 percent of the nurses at Doctors Hospital voted to join CNA/NNU in a secret ballot election held on September 30th. The official certification by the NLRB, the body governing labor relations with private sector employers, validates this overwhelming support. The mail-in ballot election saw 121 registered nurses voting for union representation, compared to just 8 against, confirming the strong desire for collective action among the 200 RNs at Doctors Hospital.
“Joining CNA is a momentous occasion for us at Doctors Hospital,” stated Mike Agardy, an RN at Doctors Hospital, following the vote. “We are eager to collaborate and collectively address critical issues concerning patient care and the needs of our nursing staff. Through a strong union contract, we aim to build a more secure and improved future for our hospital and the community it serves.”
Doctors Hospital of Manteca is part of Tenet Healthcare, a major for-profit hospital system in the United States. By unionizing with CNA/NNU, the nurses at Doctors Hospital become part of a larger movement of 5,500 Tenet RNs represented by NNU across 14 Tenet facilities in California, Arizona, and Texas. This collective strength allows nurses to advocate more effectively for improved working conditions and patient safety standards.
Kamal Kaur, another RN at Doctors Hospital, expressed enthusiasm about joining forces with other Tenet nurses: “We are excited to unite with our fellow RNs within the Tenet system who have already achieved significant advancements through unionization. We look forward to working together to establish even higher benchmarks for nursing practice and patient care throughout Tenet hospitals and beyond.”
Looking ahead, the nurses at Doctors Hospital of Manteca will begin the process of shaping their collective bargaining agenda. They will survey their colleagues to identify key priorities for negotiation with hospital management and will elect a dedicated nurse negotiating team to represent their interests at the bargaining table. This marks the beginning of a new chapter for nurses at Doctors Hospital of Manteca, empowered to collectively advocate for themselves, their patients, and the future of healthcare in their community.
The National Nurses United (NNU), the parent organization of CNA, represents over 175,000 registered nurses across the United States, from California to Maine.
