The California Nurses Association/National Nurses United (CNA/NNU) reached a tentative agreement with Kaiser Permanente today. The three-year contract includes more than 20 important professional and economic enhancements and, significantly, no reductions in patient care protections or economic or professional practice standards, according to the union.

CNA/NNU said it is withholding additional details of the tentative agreement until after ratification. If approved, the contract would cover 17,000 registered nurses and nurse practitioners in 21 hospitals and 40 medical office buildings across Northern and Central California.

CNA/NNU Co-President Zenei Cortez said:

This proposal protects our patients, defends our hard-fought economic and practice standards in a tough economic environment, and demonstrates again the strength of our professional union, CNA/NNU, and the unity of Kaiser nurses.

NNU Executive Director Rose Ann DeMoro congratulated the Kaiser nurses and Kaiser executives for their forward-thinking in:

achieving an agreement that promotes and expands nurses’ and patient standards rather than engaging in a short-sighted confrontation and unneeded concessions. This settlement encourages nurse retention and recruitment for Kaiser, is a boon to patient care, and sends a message to other employers about what is possible.