Welcome to the
CRONA Negotiations
2022 Information Page
“OUR CONTRACT, OUR FUTURE”
Our Contract is Our Future
CRONA Nurses need working conditions that will make Nursing a sustainable career and help Nurses excel in providing the world class patient care our hospitals are known for. We need wages and benefits that are competitive and recognize the education and skill required to be a Nurse and allow Nurses to make a home in the Bay Area while providing for themselves, their families, and their futures.
NEGOTIATIONS
Updates
Upcoming Dates to Track This Summer; CEU Class, and More 💙💪 July 22, 2022
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CRONA Area Representatives and Committee Members📆The annual CRONA Convention is on Tuesday, October 4th, 2022. Self-scheduling for October open up soon – make sure you request the day off to attend! You may to request the day of Convention within your commitment if you prefer, and this request should not be unreasonably denied. If you will not be able to attend, please look for your alternate now so that your alternate may request October 4th off during the upcoming schedule request period. All Area Representatives and members of CRONA Committees are strongly encouraged to attend. We will conduct CRONA business during Convention, including discussion of any proposed Bylaws changes, updates from our legal team, annual budget review, and we will have a CEU class with guest speaker. |
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RNPA, the union representing Nurses at Santa Clara Valley Medical Center, cordially invites CRONA Nurses to attend their upcoming class: Nurses Against ViolenceTuesday, September 6, 2022Villa Ragusa, 35 South Second St. Campbell, CA 95008 On-Site Registration 7:00AM-7:45AM Class begins promptly at 8:00AM and ends at 4:30PM Course Description This class is designed to help new and experienced nurses cope and intervene with the increased violence against healthcare professionals. Our speaker will teach you techniques to help you navigate turbulent situations that arise when dealing with violence in the healthcare setting. By the end of the class, you will feel empowered to incorporate what you learned so that you can better keep yourself, your colleagues, and your patients safe. Learning Objectives • Awareness: Understanding the Issues facing Nursing and Healthcare staff today • Education: Eliminating gaps in knowledge through real-life scenarios • Empowerment: Hands on approach to a safe environment • Eliminate Violence: “Ready set release” technique Presenter: Dr. Sandra Risoldi DNP, MSN Ed. APRN, PMHNP-BC Dr. Sandi has been a Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner since 2019 and has helped diagnose and treat acute and chronic presentations of various mental health conditions. She has worked in various acute psychiatric facilities, and is known for her highly skilled professional experience of more than 30 years. She has been an advocate for mental health, and has helped educate nursing professionals across the country about the acute and chronic phases of mental health issues. Dr. Sandi has a burning passion to help eradicate violence against nurses through education to patients and medical staff. She has been an advocate for Nurses Against Violence and through her presentation, she will lend her unique approach to handling violence in the healthcare setting. After her class you will be better prepared to help deal and mitigate the impacts that the Pandemic has placed on everyone’s mental health, and have a better understanding of how mental health contributes to violence in the workplace. Registration1) Online at www.RNPA.net/classreg OR 2) Mail registration form (see below) and check to the RNPA Office, – 950 South Bascom Ave., Suite 2120, San Jose, CA 95128. • NO faxes or pony mail. Envelope must be postmarked by Wednesday, August 31, 2022. THE LAST DAY TO REGISTER is Wednesday, August 31, 2022 at 5:00PM. **Early Registration FEES** • All RNPA Members or Retirees —> $50.00 • All Non RNPA members —> $100.00 • New Members/ Members with CE Certificates—> FREE **ON-SITE Registration FEES** • All RNPA Members or Retirees —> $60.00 • All Non RNPA members —> $110.00 • New Members/ Members with CE Certificates—> FREE Please call the RNPA office at (408) 292-6061 or email rnpaadmin@rnpa.net for questions or concerns RNPA will host our first in-person class in 2 years! Your attendance is required for the entire class to receive the 7.5 CEU’S. At the end of the class, you will be provided a QR code for a survey that needs to be completed, once we confirm we have received your survey we will email you your CE Certificate by the end of the week. Continuing Education HoursThis workshop provides 7.5 contact hours. Provider approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing, Provider # CEP 6837. Please Note:
FOOD provided: Executive continental breakfast, buffet style lunch that includes chicken, salmon, and vegetarian options. Coffee and tea will be served all day! |
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CRONA News and Updates 💙💪 July 11, 2022
July 11, 2022
💙💪 Dear CRONA Nurses,
I hope everyone is enjoying the warm weather and long days of summer, and getting some time off to rest and recharge with friends and family. It’s been a busy year for CRONA but we’re not slowing down our advocacy. I am looking forward to seeing you at our membership webinar this week.
In Unity,
Colleen Borges, President
CRONA
Negotiating for our Newest Members
The Patient Placement Nurse Specialists and Case Managers at LPCH voted to join CRONA in March 2022. CRONA presented its opening proposal for a “side letter” to address the details of transitioning these new Nurses into the CRONA collective bargaining agreement back in April 2022, in conjunction with CRONA and the hospital’s negotiations for a new global contract. The hospital asked to postpone negotiation of the details of that transition until after a tentative agreement on the overall contract was reached, and, as a sign of good faith, CRONA agreed. When negotiations for the full CRONA contract broke down in April, the Patient Placement Nurse Specialists and Case Managers walked the picket line with their fellow CRONA Nurses.
Now, after repeated delays by the hospital, CRONA is at last negotiating the details of the “side letter” to integrate these Nurses into the main contract. But it appears that Packard leadership did not learn from their experiences during our negotiations earlier this year.
Packard’s proposals so far do not show our newest CRONA members that their work is valued. During our negotiations earlier this year, Packard leadership said they were “philosophically” opposed to treating Nurses differently when it comes to compensation. But now the hospital has proposed a lower wage scale just for these Nurses and would deny these Nurses access to the PNDP for career advancement, deny accrual and use of “Absent Time Off” (ATO), and deny the protection of the staffing provisions negotiated as part of CRONA’s most recent contract. When Stanford’s Transfer Center Nurses, who do work similar to that of Packard’s Patient Placement Nurse Specialists, were integrated into CRONA last year, Stanford agreed that Transfer Center Nurses would be paid the same wage rates as all CRONA’s Nurses and have access to the same benefits provided under our contract. There is no reason for Packard to treat CRONA’s newest members differently.
We have more bargaining sessions scheduled in July, and we will keep you updated. CRONA Nurses stand strong with all CRONA Nurses.
Important Dates This Summer
Mark Your Calendars!
Act now, or ⏰set a reminder and mark your calendars for everything happening in our contracts this summer. Some of these reminders relate to language from prior contracts, others are reminders about new contract language. Every provision is something CRONA Nurses fought hard for, so don’t let an opportunity to take full advantage of your benefits and contract language pass you by!
Applicable at BOTH Hospitals:
🗓️ Published schedule must reflect which dates any Nurse is ⛑️ working over commitment: 60 days after ratification (July 2).
😷Payments for Nurses in “Hard to fill” units: payment with check for first full pay period September for hours worked in quarter ending August 31.
💵Certification pay: last quarterly payment will be with paycheck for first full pay period in July, then payment schedule changes to semiannual with the first payment due in October 2022.
💸Student loan repayment: must pre-designate use of EDU funds prior to the start of the next academic year, following the process designed by the hospital. ⚠️ The hospitals have not announced their process. CRONA is working to push the hospital to implement and announce the process for pre-designation ASAP.
📦Holiday bundling vote: any Nurse who wishes to call for a vote must do so at least 14 days in advance of the vote, and vote must be held before September 1 of each year. Holiday bundling vote request forms are available on the Forms page of the CRONA website.
📚Education funds and hours: August 31, 2022 is the day of the academic year and the last date to use your hours or use your funds. In our new contracts, the end date of the academic year will vary slightly from year to year, starting in August of 2023.
LPCH Only:
💵Weekend differential increase from $3.00/hour to 5%: starting July 2022.
🎄🦃❄️ Excluded Holiday vote: this vote must be held before a holiday bundling vote may be held.
SHC Only:
📆Publication of schedule at least 14 days ahead: 60 days after ratification (starting no later than 7/2/2022)
All CRONA Nurses
- CRONA Elections (Area Representative, Committees, Executive Board): September 1, 2022 is the last day to submit a Consent to Serve to be on the ballot for election to a CRONA position. Elections will be held in Fall of 2022.
- Hearing Board member: July 30, 2022 is the last day to volunteer to serve on the Hearing Board that will review all charges against members related to crossing the picket line during the strike.
- Charges against a CRONA Nurse: July 30, 2022 is the last day to submit charges against a CRONA Nurse for crossing the picket line during the strike.
CRONA Area Representatives and Committees
📆The annual CRONA Convention is on Tuesday, October 4th, 2022. Self-scheduling for October open up soon – make sure you request the day off to attend! You are allowed to request the day of Convention within your commitment if you prefer, and this request should not be unreasonably denied. If you will not be able to attend, please look for your alternate now so that your alternate may request October 4th off.
Payroll Errors?!
Nurses are writing in to let CRONA’s leadership team know that they aren’t being paid correctly. Please make sure you check your paycheck carefully each pay period and ensure your pay rates are correct. If there is an error, file a ticket online via the hospital’s AskHR on the intranet. This will generate a ticket number and allow you to track progress. If you do not receive a timely or correct response, please let us know by sending your HR ticket number, dates and details, and any correspondence with HR to crona@crona.org so we can escalate your issue.
Want to order CRONA logo gear?
We received many requests to make the CRONA hoodie jackets available for Nurses to order. These jackets were prizes at events earlier this year and a lot of people really liked them. We heard you! We have CRONA t-shirts available (in blue similar to photo above) for all Nurses and have given them out at many events, but we have never made special items available for purchase – until this year. We are planning to offer the zip-up hoodies, along with t-shifts in special colors. Look for information about how to order in updates later this summer.
#CRONAStrong
Special Notice: When a Nurse Crosses the Picket Line 💙💪 June 20, 2022
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June 20, 2022 💙💪 Dear CRONA Nurses,The end of contract negotiations and a (very successful!) strike is only one stage of the contract process. CRONA is actively working on our part of what is necessary to get our new agreement reviewed and proofread so it may be published. We will continue to highlight new contract provisions in future newsletters, membership meetings, and in our social media to give all CRONA Nurses the opportunity to stay informed and learn our new language. During the strike our unity was amazing and I am so proud of how CRONA Nurses supported each other. Our unity was key to our success in our contract negotiations. That said, we were told by the hospital that approximately 75 Nurses unfortunately crossed the picket line. Out of more than 5000 Nurses, that number is astoundingly small. We received multiple queries from members asking about the process that occurs when a Nurse crosses the picket line, and are publishing this newsletter to respond to those inquiries and ensure that our Bylaws are well understood. There is a deadline to request charges be brought against a Nurse who violates our Bylaws. Please note the deadline, listed below. Speaking of our Bylaws, we will soon reach the time of year when our Bylaws committee conducts its annual review. Part of this review involves publishing a notice to the CRONA membership; look for this notice in an upcoming newsletter. In Unity, Colleen Borges, President CRONA |
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CRONA Executive Board Provides Guidance Regarding Post-Strike Charges and Requests for Reinstatement of Membership CRONA’s Bylaws (a) outline the procedures that govern charges and discipline for CRONA members who did not honor the strike line and (b) establish guidelines for the reinstatement of Nurses who resigned their CRONA membership and want to rejoin CRONA. The CRONA Board wants to provide clear information to all Nurses regarding these procedures. For additional information, please review CRONA’s full Bylaws, available at https://crona.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Bylaws-2022.pdf. Charges Relating to Strike Conduct Any member in good standing may bring charges against other member(s). Pursuant to Section 407 of CRONA’s Bylaws, charges against members must: (1) Be in writing; (2) Identify the charging party proffering the charges; (3) Include a specific statement of the facts out of which the charges arise; (4) Be filed within 90 calendar days from the conclusion of a strike, when the alleged offense occurs during the pendency of the strike; and (5) Be filed with the Executive Board. Accordingly, any member in good standing who wishes to bring a charge relating to conduct during the strike by another member should file a written charge with the Executive Board by no later than Saturday, July 30, 2022. Charges may be submitted by email to crona@crona.org, and should have the subject line “Charge Against Member.” Please note that, under CRONA’s Bylaws, members may be subject to charges if they have engaged in conduct prohibited by Article IV of the Bylaws, violated the Bylaws, and/or taken “any action that tends to undermine or jeopardize or be detrimental to CRONA or its members.” “Crossing a lawful picket line established by CRONA … is also grounds for discipline.” Discipline “can be in the form of monetary sanctions, suspensions and/or expulsion from membership.” Upon receipt of any charge(s), CRONA will convene a Hearing Board to consider the charge(s). No disciplinary action will be taken against any member unless and until the member has been provided the specific charges in writing; given a reasonable time to prepare a defense; and afforded a full and fair hearing before a Hearing Board and, if an appeal is requested, before an Appeals Board, as detailed in Sections 409 and 410 of the CRONA Bylaws. Call to Area Representatives – Serve as Hearing Board Members If any charge(s) are filed, CRONA will need two to four Area Representatives, preferably from different units, to serve on a Hearing Board. These Hearing Board members are elected by Area Representatives at a general meeting. If you are interested in serving in such a capacity, please send your information to the Executive Board at crona@crona.org, with the subject line “Hearing Board,” as soon as possible, and by no later than July 30, 2022. Please include: your name; your unit; and a description of your interest in serving as a Hearing Board member. Applications for Reinstatement of Membership Section 401.1 of CRONA’s Bylaws provides that any “CRONA member who resigned from CRONA may apply for reinstatement after fulfilling all the necessary obligations as determined by the Executive Board and may include a reinstatement fee of up to $3,000.00. Applications for reinstatement shall be presented to the Executive Board, which shall determine whether it is in the best interests of the union to allow such reinstatement.” The CRONA Executive Board has adopted the following procedures for any applications for reinstatement. A Nurse seeking reinstatement should: (1) Submit a written application for reinstatement; (2) Identify the date of the Nurse’s resignation; (3) Include an explanation of the reasons the Nurse resigned from CRONA and the reasons the Nurse is seeking reinstatement; and (4) Send the application to the CRONA Executive Board at crona@crona.org with the subject line “Application for Reinstatement.” The Executive Board will review any applications for reinstatement received by June 30, 2022 at its regularly scheduled meeting on July 21, 2022, and will review any applications received after that date on a rolling basis. |
Contract raises, retro pay, new steps 💙💪 June 2, 2022
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Updates on retro pay, Nurse Week celebrations, and more! 💙💪 May 10, 2022
CRONA and Nursing in the News
(a selection of recent news articles)
New York Times 5/9/22: When Health Care Workers Are Protected, Patients Are, Too (includes mention of CRONA)
Who Gets the Bird? 5/9/22: Jonah Furman’s labor newsletter (Jonah Furman is from Labor Notes; newsletter mentions CRONA’s recent strike and contract)
Nurse.org 4/7/2022: Another Nurse Prosecuted For The Death of a Patient (no CRONA mention, however is in regard to Just Culture in Nursing)
May 10, 2022
💙💪 Dear CRONA Nurses,
Do you have questions about the new contracts? We will have a table at Wednesday’s Nurse Week event staffed by members of the CRONA Negotiation Team. Keep reading this newsletter and follow @cronanurses on social media (Twitter, Instagram, Facebook) for ongoing news and education about new contract language. Every CRONA Nurse deserves to receive full advantage of our new language. Let’s keep learning!
Check Your Paychecks. We have an update on implementation of our new contract raises. The 5% pay raises are retroactively “effective at the start of the payroll period that is closest to” April 1, 2022, namely the pay period that started on April 3. Make sure you check your paychecks carefully to ensure your pay rates are correct. The new wage scales are linked on our Negotiations page. The hospitals shared with CRONA their target dates for implementation of the new wage rates and retro pay, and they are:
LPCH: the May 20 paycheck (covering pay period for 1 – 14 May) should reflect the new contract pay rates for all CRONA Nurses. Retro pay will also be paid in the May 20 check, except for any Nurse with a step change. For all Nurses with a step change, retro pay should be in the June 3 paycheck.
SHC: the June 3 paycheck (covering pay period for 15 – 28 May) should reflect new pay rates and retro pay for all CRONA Nurses.
Outstanding Items. CRONA is in dialog with the hospitals regarding implementation of new contract language, including:
- HSA contributions
- Student loan payment funds election process
- RSN guidelines for staffing by acuity
Look for updates in future newsletters on these issues and more.
Published Contracts. The full contracts linked on the CRONA website are the 2019 – 2022 contracts and will remain that way until the official 2022 – 2025 contracts are published. It always takes a few months for the final version of the new contract to be published: both CRONA and the hospitals must review every word of the new contracts to ensure they are accurate and match our agreements. For new contract language information, please see the Tentative Agreements on the Negotiations page of the CRONA website.
We’re making an exception for Nurse Week! Our membership and Area Representative monthly webinars are held on the second Wednesday of each month. Due to our Nurse Week Unity Celebration on the second Wednesday in May we are moving the webinar to the THIRD WEDNESDAY, May 18. It will be at the usual time, 8:00 p.m.
We will answer all your CRONA related questions at the webinar – including questions about the new contracts. See you then!
Celebrate CRONA Nurses
Here’s an image for your social media profile picture to celebrate our strength, unity, and advocacy. Nurse Week is coming soon! Keep this image up through Nurse Week and showcase how CRONA Nurses carry on the legacy of Florence Nightingale and light the way forward in Nursing.
Celebrating our unity! #CRONAStrong for across-the-board wins!! 💙💪 May 4, 2022
CRONA in the News
(a selection of recent news articles)
ZDoggMD 4/29/22: The VZPD Show Ep. 17| Moderna for Kids, Physician-Influencers, Stanford Nurses Strike – ZDoggMD, listen at minute 42:30 for Stanford Nurses Strike.
SF Chronicle 5/2/22: Stanford, Packard nurses vote overwhelmingly to end strike, approve new contract
Mother Jones 5/2/22: After a Week on Strike, Stanford Nurses Just Approved a New Contract
The Stanford Daily 5/2/22: Stanford nurses ratify contract with hospitals, set to resume work on Tuesday
KQED 5/2/22: Stanford Nurses Approve New Contracts, Ending Weeklong Strike
Healthcare Drive 5/3/22: Stanford nurses ratify deal, ending weeklong strike
Becker’s Hospital Review 5/3/22: Stanford, Lucile Packard nurses OK 3-year contracts, return to work
May 4, 2022
💙💪 Dear CRONA Nurses,
When we announced our strike, CRONA was clear that Nurses would only come back to work when the hospitals acknowledged our expertise, our sacrifices and our professionalism.
💙💪 Thanks to the unity, energy and dedication you brought to CRONA and our picket line, we’re back to work with industry-leading contracts!
When Stanford and Packard threatened to cut off our health benefits, they thought it would break our resolve. But it backfired. It only strengthened CRONA Nurses’ unity and perseverance, and helped us build tons of support from our community.
Because we stood strong together for fair contracts that support Nurses and our patients, the hospitals could not ignore our demands. We won improvements across every single priority area we set out –
💙 protections for safe staffing
💙 industry-leading wages (17% over the next three years)
💙 significant improvements to retiree medical benefits and access to mental health benefits
💙 incentive pay for high-acuity, hard-to-staff units
💙 additional pre-scheduled vacation rights
After years of battling the pandemic on the frontlines, it is time for executives in the hospital industry to listen to Nurses instead of resorting to union-busting tactics and cutting corners.
⚠️ CRONA is committed to ensuring that employers are not allowed to weaponize health care benefits in the future. Being in a labor dispute should not mean you lose access to health care. Assembly Bill 2530 in the California State Legislature would ensure striking workers do not have to worry about breaks in coverage. Tell Governor Newsom and your representatives to support AB 2350 to protect workers’ health care. Find your local legislators here.
CONGRATULATIONS to all CRONA Nurses on our incredible victory and setting the highest standard for patient care and our profession. #CRONAStrong!
LPCH Nurses – Healthcare Benefits
Note: Stanford Nurses’ benefits were not affected; this is a Packard-only issue.
CRONA’s agreement to end the strike included an express and binding commitment by the hospital that “the strike will not affect Nurses’ benefit eligibility, and all Nurses who were benefit-eligible as of April 24, 2022 shall remain benefit-eligible as of May 3, 2022, with no break in benefit coverage ….”
Packard hospital, for reasons that have not been explained, appears to have ongoing issues with respect to notifying “vendors” that there should be no break in benefit coverage. The hospital stated in its email to all Nurses that it “anticipate[d] this will be completed on May 3.”
Despite the hospital’s statement, we are aware that some Nurses are continuing to experience problems accessing their healthcare benefits. For any LPCH Nurse who has had problems with coverage, you should contact Jasmine Robinson at JasRobinson@stanfordchildrens.org.
Please keep CRONA in the loop if you are having problems, as CRONA will follow up with the hospital to make sure that all issues are being promptly addressed.
IMPORTANT NOTE: Packard has also stated that it was unable to recall “COBRA notices” that are going out to Nurses this week. As stated in management’s communication, you should ignore the COBRA notice.
Celebrating Nurses Week
While we are disappointed that both hospitals decided to postpone celebrating Nurses Week next week, we are undeterred in holding our own celebrations! We have our Nurse Week event on Wednesday, May 11 from 5:00 – 10:00 p.m. Please RSVP using the link in the eblast. Look for announcements about other events!
Celebrate CRONA Nurses
Here’s an image for your social media profile picture to celebrate our strength, unity, and advocacy. Nurse Week is coming soon! Keep this image up through Nurse Week and showcase how CRONA Nurses carry on the legacy of Florence Nightingale and light the way forward in Nursing.
Return to Work Updates 💙💪 May 2, 2022; 5:41 p.m.
New Updates!
May 2, 2022; 5:41 p.m.
💙💪 Dear CRONA Nurses,
As we celebrate the great contract wins, we are also getting questions about the details of returning to work. We will continue to provide updates, but here are a few.
Return to Work Times. NEW INFORMATION! CRONA’s return-to-work and strike settlement agreement provide that CRONA Nurses will return to work at 6:45 a.m. at Stanford and 7:00 a.m. at Packard on Tuesday, May 3 – and will work their previously scheduled shifts. You should show up at this time, even if your regular shift starts earlier. The hospitals have informed us that there will be “gap coverage” for the time before the strike ends. You should work through your regularly scheduled end time.
Shared Leadership Cancellation. CRONA is aware that the Stanford Shared Leadership meeting scheduled for Tuesday, 5/3, was canceled. The strike settlement agreement provides that Nurses will be returned to their previously existing schedules, beginning Tuesday at 6:45 a.m. at Stanford. Please contact your manager regarding whether there is a need for you to work during the time the Shared Leadership meeting was scheduled (0830-1630). As an alternative, it is CRONA’s understanding that Nurses may voluntarily choose to work a full regular day shift or night shift to fill staffing needs. If not needed, those affected by the Shared Leadership meeting cancellation may use PTO, ATO, or take the day unpaid.
Nurses Who Are Unable to Report on May 3. If you are unable to report to work as scheduled on May 3, you should contact your manager (not staffing). Under our return to work agreement with the hospitals, you should use your best efforts to report as scheduled on May 3, but as long as you are acting in good faith, you will not be subject to discipline. Note that this applies to May 3 only.
LPCH Medical Benefits. The hospitals committed, as part of the strike settlement, that there would be “no break in benefit coverage” for all benefit-eligible Nurses. At Packard, it is CRONA’s understanding that there have been delays in implementing this commitment. CRONA has raised these concerns directly with the hospital. Packard will be sending an email addressing problems that Nurses may be experiencing as a result of these delays. If you are having problems accessing your medical benefits that are not addressed by the hospital’s communications, please contact us at crona@crona.org.
On-Site EAP Access. The hospitals are providing on-site access to the EAP for the remainder of this week.
- Packard will have EAP on-site Tuesday through Friday for all staff by appointment in Consult-725-Main-3106-8. The hospital will be sending a communication about this.
- Stanford will have EAP on-site at 500P this Tuesday though Friday for all staff from 7am-5pm. They will be located at the Family Resource Center (3rd Floor).
In Other Union News – Doctors Now Unionized!
Congratulations to Stanford and Packard Residents and Fellows, now officially in a union of their own. The voting period was held during the month of April and the ballots were counted at the National Labor Relations Board today. This is breaking news as the vote count was just finished this afternoon!
Celebrate CRONA Nurses
Here’s an image for your social media profile picture to celebrate our strength, unity, and advocacy. Nurse Week is coming soon! Keep this image up through Nurse Week and showcase how CRONA Nurses carry on the legacy of Florence Nightingale and light the way forward in Nursing.
Senator Padilla Will Join the CRONA Picket Line; the Work Continues 💙💪 April 29, 2022
April 29, 2022
💙💪 Dear CRONA Nurses,
💪🙌 A huge THANK YOU to everyone who has been out on the picket line this week. Today, we had strong showings at Stanford and Packard facilities across the Bay Area. We are proud of the unity and strength CRONA Nurses have shown every single day since the start of the strike.
U.S. Senator Alex Padilla will be meeting Nurses on the picket line today, 4/29 at 2:45 p.m.! We are thrilled that Senator Padilla is coming out to support us in our fight for fair contracts, after his earlier public statement in solidarity with CRONA Nurses.
Senator Padilla will be joined by other allies from our community standing in solidarity with Nurses. Picketing tomorrow has been extended until 3:30 p.m., to allow families to join if they are able. (We will have CRONA t-shirts available Friday afternoon for adults and kids.) Let’s finish out week one #CRONAstrong, with our families and our allies by our sides!
Bargaining Update: Your bargaining team was hard at work Thursday in federal mediation, pushing hard to reach fair contracts. We made progress yesterday with the federal mediator and we plan to meet again in mediation today and continue our work. Those mediation discussions remain confidential. We will provide an update as soon as we have one to share.
CRONA Nurses hard at work on the table and on the picket line! Get ready for Thursday! 💙💪 April 27, 2022
April 27, 2022
💙💪 Dear CRONA Nurses,
💪🙌 The solidarity on the picket line today was truly inspiring. Nurses standing up for each other and for patient care is a force to be reckoned with.
Bargaining Table Update. Your CRONA negotiating team was in federal mediation today with the hospitals and the parties have agreed to continue working with the federal mediator tomorrow. When the parties are in mediation, there will not be detailed updates. Your CRONA team will of course let you know if there is anything to report.
Picket Line Update. The Committee of Interns and Residents (CIR) and its organizing committee made up of Stanford residents and fellows issued a strong statement of support for striking CRONA Nurses today! We were joined by electricians from IBEW Local 440. And many friends and family of CRONA Nurses turned out on the picket line in a tremendous show of solidarity. We even had Coca-Cola and AT&T representatives stop by to support us.
Main hospitals and off-sites on THRUSDAY
Thursday (tomorrow!) we have both off-site and main hospital picket lines. Join the picket lines at your location of choice (see maps with times and locations, below) from 7:00 – 10:00 a.m.
COMING ON FRIDAY!!
Let’s finish the week #CRONAstrong with a big afternoon turnout for the picket line on Friday. By popular request we are having an afternoon CRONA kids family picket time from 2:00 – 3:30 p.m. – the extra half hour to accommodate child care requests. All CRONA Nurses encouraged to help us close out the week – we will be taking Saturday and Sunday off because we all deserve it. We will also have CRONA T-SHIRTS available Friday afternoon for adults and kids (kids’ sizes in limited quantities). CRONA Nurses are all about family, and our families are an important source of support in our strike as well as part of the reason our contract improvements are so important to us. Please message your coworkers and make plans to come together with your families on Friday afternoon.
Picket Signs. Please bring CRONA picket signs (along with yourself) back to the picket line. We are almost out of signs and need signs for people to carry. Your own homemade signs are also welcome – we’ve seen some really creative signs!
NOTES:
- If you have a picket sign – come to the picket line!
- Family members and CRONA Nurse allies welcome!
- We have signs for you to carry – please return for reuse when you leave.
- OK to bring your own sign, subject to approval by Strike Lead
- Masks highly encouraged
- Wear sunscreen
- Stay hydrated
- Carpool/public transportation suggested
- Z, C, A University permit lots (if you have annual or day use permit)
- No hospital access – use outside porta-pottys or off-site restrooms
- Please pick up your trash – let’s keep it clean
Have questions? See a Strike Lead
- Look for the CRONA Nurse in a blue safety vest
- Refer all media/reporter inquiries to the Strike Lead
- Need a picket sign – see a Strike Lead
- Have an issue? See a Strike Lead
Here is an Image to Share on Social Media:
Please use this for your profile picture or post to your social media feed to show your support!
CRONA Nurses Strike On Monday – Even As Your Team Keeps Working 💙💪 April 23, 2022
CRONA Special Info
Letter to the hospitals from Assemblymember Ash Kalra, 27th Assembly Districk; Assemblymember Marc Berman, 24th Assembly District; and State Senator Josh Becker, 13th Senate District
💙💪 Dear CRONA Nurses,
Monday morning CRONA Nurses will stand in unity – demanding fair contracts that recognize our worth. That does not mean that your negotiating team will stop working. As we have been doing for the last 4 months, your negotiating team is working hard. We are meeting this weekend and are scheduled to meet again on Tuesday.
We have heard from so many of you that now is our time! While we have considered the hospitals’ request to call off the strike, we are not prepared to stop pushing for contracts that recognize the value we bring to the hospitals and meaningfully address the urgent issues that are making our profession unsustainable.
We will continue to do everything possible to get all 5,000 CRONA Nurses working under fair contracts that recognize our worth and value our dedication to our profession and our patients. Now is the time to stand strong and united as we push for the contracts we deserve.
More information is coming. Look for an email with additional strike details – parking, where to assemble, and more – later this weekend. Details about tomorrow’s Unity Picnic event (and venue change!) are below.
In solidarity,
CRONA Executive Board and Negotiation Team
#Unity
My 2000 Strike Story
It had been a typical busy night in the PICU. I had been at the hospital just over a year and had really settled in into my new unit and routine. As always, the PICU was short-staffed so I had picked up an extra shift. I sat eating my dinner in a quiet place to unwind and relax before heading back out the chaos of a typical PICU shift. My reverie was interrupted by Dawn, a day-shift charge Nurse, coming into the room. I barely knew her but I knew she was involved in the union. I had never worked at a union-represented hospital before, so I knew I was a member but beyond that I did not even know we were in contract negotiations. That would change in an instant.
Dawn strode into the room and walked up to the CRONA board. I watched as she tacked a sign with one word that would change everything: “IMPASSE.” Seeing my puzzled expression, she began to explain what this meant. The break room was quickly filling with Nurses gathered to hear the news Negotiations had become ineffective and CRONA was going out on strike!
In just a few hours, the hospital was crawling with managers. They began collecting keys and telling us to clean out our lockers. Our manager announced that she had been assured our unit would be staffed by non-union temp workers. At 7:00 a.m., we sat waiting for the scabs to come in and take report. We needed a minimum of 12 Nurses, but by 7:30 a.m., only four replacement workers had shown up. The growing panic of our managers was palpable. By 8:00 a.m., the manager was frantically trying to move patients around. Half an hour later, the CRONA president came by and offered to cover the PICU on a shift-to-shift basis since so many patients were uncovered. We gave report and walked out as a group. We would learn later that the same issue had occurred in the NICU.
As we walked out the front doors of the hospital, we were cheered by a huge crowd of off-duty CRONA Nurses who were already walking the picket lines. We picketed for over an hour and eventually went home to sleep, exhausted from our shifts and unsure of what would come next.
I woke up a few hours later to a call from the CRONA president, asking if I would be willing to come in and staff the PICU that night. She assured me that it was with full union approval, so I agreed. The few CRONA nurses in the building checked in with each other as well as with some of the NICU nurses who also had been asked to cover critical patients. I left the next morning and did not return for over 50 days.
I applied at a registry and prepared to begin working on a temporary basis to earn money while we waited for the hospitals to come to their senses. Much to my surprise, there was more work available than I actually needed. Even better yet, I found I was working with many of my same colleagues! We quickly arranged carpools and dubbed the UCSF PICU “LPCH North.” The inability of the hospital to cover the normal patient load meant that the surrounding hospitals were packed with our patients. We provided them with the same quality care, just in a different location.
As the strike went on, we continued to picket and attend informational meetings on an almost daily basis. I formed many lifelong friendships that summer as we stood united in a cause and fight we all thought was worthy. One of the most powerful events of the strike was our candlelight vigil. Over 500 Nurses gathered in front of the fountain — each holding a lit candle — for a moment of silence. It was one of the most powerful and moving experiences I have ever participated in.
After 52 days, the strike finally ended and we returned to work. The strike of 2000 was difficult and it involved sacrifice, but it remains one of the most professionally-affirming events of my life. CRONA Nurses stood united and we stood together for what we knew was right — and it got us the benefits and rights we have today. Looking ahead to the fight we face today, I know CRONA Nurses have the power and the strength to stand up for what Nurses and patients need and deserve. I have walked the line before, and I am ready to do it again!
In Solidarity,
Fred Taleghani
#KnowYourWorth #CRONAStrong
At the Table and at the Picket Line: Your CRONA Negotiating Team Is Working Hard for Fair Contracts 💙💪; April 22, 2022
CRONA in the News
(most current articles on top; see previous newsletters for additional articles)
San Jose Mercury News/Times-Herald: “I’m exhausted”: Why Stanford nurses are preparing to strike and others already have
💙💪 Dear CRONA Nurses,
We know that this is an anxious time for everyone. As the strike comes closer and the hospitals start to feel the pressure of ensuring uninterrupted and high-quality patient care, they are finally recognizing just how invaluable we are. But we never doubted our worth.
In short, the hospitals are waking up. We just wish it hadn’t taken them so long.
The Hospitals’ Friday Evening Proposal and What It Means
Even as we have continued to work at the bedside, we have been here and ready to meet. When the hospitals requested a Friday night negotiating session to present their proposal – their formal response to our April 12 proposal – your CRONA negotiating team was there.
The hospitals are likely hoping that their revised proposal will allow them to stem the tide of bad public opinion. Nearly 30,000 people signed our petition to call out the hospitals’ shameful tactics of trying to hold our health benefits hostage. And numerous news outlets have told our stories of burn-out, exhaustion from working in chronically understaffed areas, and lack of access to mental health benefits.
Your team will work hard this weekend and we have a formal bargaining session scheduled for Tuesday. Our goal has always been to avoid a strike and we will continue to fight for contracts that address the issues that matter to all of us. If a strike cannot be avoided, we will continue to do everything possible to get all 5,000 CRONA Nurses back to work quickly under fair contracts that recognize our worth and value our dedication to our profession and our patients. Now is the time to stand strong and united as we push for the contracts we deserve.
The Fine Print
Until tonight, the last on-the-record proposal was CRONA’s proposal from April 12. Ten days later, we have a response from the hospitals that shows some movement on issues the hospitals had previously refused to address – like access to vacation and student loans. The hospitals’ proposal, however, still has pitfalls that we have previously identified. Here are some of them.
- Wages and Bonuses. The hospitals propose base wage increases of 5%, 4%, and 4% in years 1-3, and then offer “incentive payments” of 2% six months after ratification, and 1% 18 months after ratification. Nurses are savvy enough to know that this does not make year 1 the 7% increase that CRONA has proposed.
And read the fine print: the proposed bonuses are based on minimum commitments, not actual hours worked, and available only for Nurses employed on the date of ratification.
- Mental Health Support. The hospitals continue to reject our proposal to provide funds for private mental health care, offering a one-time six-session program.
- New “Hard to Fill” Position Side Letter. The hospitals’ new proposal, which is an attempt to address the need to recruit and retain critical care Nurses, fails to address the real-life challenges of the critical care areas and why they in particular need incentives for recruitment and retention. CRONA has spent a lot of time during these negotiations explaining to the hospitals how under-resourced the critical care areas are – and they still don’t believe us.
State Lawmakers Call on Hospitals to Stop Playing Games with Nurses’ Health Care Benefits – Call Tactic “Unconscionable”
Even as the hospitals present their revised proposal, they are refusing to back down from their outrageous decision to use our medical benefits as a weapon in these negotiations. Tonight, Assembly Members Ash Kalra and Marc Berman, along with State Senator Josh Becker, sent a letter to Stanford and Packard, calling on the hospitals to immediately continue good faith negotiations without the threat of stripping nurses of health care:
“While we fully understand and appreciate the negotiation process, it seems unconscionable that Stanford and Packard would use something as essential as health care benefits as a means to threaten against their right to strike. … Having received generous federal funding the last two years, Stanford and Packard health care should not be playing games with nurses’ health care benefits.”
We are grateful to the Senator and Assembly Members for their support. We hope the hospitals are listening.
#Unity
Response was so incredible to our picnic that a venue for 500 wasn’t enough. Fortunately we were able to find a new venue. In a time of stress we can take the time to keep good company and draw from our collective strength. Many CRONA Nurses and family will be attending! We’ve also invited residents and fellows who are working to unionize under CIR-SEIU.
Devil’s Canyon Brewery
935 Washington St.; San Carlos, CA
Sunday, April 24
noon – 5:00 p.m.
Food and Activities:
- We provide hamburgers, hot dogs, bottled water, soda, chips
- Because we’re now at a brewery, beer is available for purchase
- You are welcome to bring side dishes and desserts
- We are planning kid-friendly activities – this is an all-ages venue
- Picket sign-making area
- CRONA logo items available
We disabled the RSVP because the high number of RSVPs broke it – just show up!
My 2000 Strike Story
It had been a typical busy night in the PICU. I had been at the hospital just over a year and had really settled in into my new unit and routine. As always, the PICU was short-staffed so I had picked up an extra shift. I sat eating my dinner in a quiet place to unwind and relax before heading back out the chaos of a typical PICU shift. My reverie was interrupted by Dawn, a day-shift charge Nurse, coming into the room. I barely knew her but I knew she was involved in the union. I had never worked at a union-represented hospital before, so I knew I was a member but beyond that I did not even know we were in contract negotiations. That would change in an instant.
Dawn strode into the room and walked up to the CRONA board. I watched as she tacked a sign with one word that would change everything: “IMPASSE.” Seeing my puzzled expression, she began to explain what this meant. The break room was quickly filling with Nurses gathered to hear the news Negotiations had become ineffective and CRONA was going out on strike!
In just a few hours, the hospital was crawling with managers. They began collecting keys and telling us to clean out our lockers. Our manager announced that she had been assured our unit would be staffed by non-union temp workers. At 7:00 a.m., we sat waiting for the scabs to come in and take report. We needed a minimum of 12 Nurses, but by 7:30 a.m., only four replacement workers had shown up. The growing panic of our managers was palpable. By 8:00 a.m., the manager was frantically trying to move patients around. Half an hour later, the CRONA president came by and offered to cover the PICU on a shift-to-shift basis since so many patients were uncovered. We gave report and walked out as a group. We would learn later that the same issue had occurred in the NICU.
As we walked out the front doors of the hospital, we were cheered by a huge crowd of off-duty CRONA Nurses who were already walking the picket lines. We picketed for over an hour and eventually went home to sleep, exhausted from our shifts and unsure of what would come next.
I woke up a few hours later to a call from the CRONA president, asking if I would be willing to come in and staff the PICU that night. She assured me that it was with full union approval, so I agreed. The few CRONA nurses in the building checked in with each other as well as with some of the NICU nurses who also had been asked to cover critical patients. I left the next morning and did not return for over 50 days.
I applied at a registry and prepared to begin working on a temporary basis to earn money while we waited for the hospitals to come to their senses. Much to my surprise, there was more work available than I actually needed. Even better yet, I found I was working with many of my same colleagues! We quickly arranged carpools and dubbed the UCSF PICU “LPCH North.” The inability of the hospital to cover the normal patient load meant that the surrounding hospitals were packed with our patients. We provided them with the same quality care, just in a different location.
As the strike went on, we continued to picket and attend informational meetings on an almost daily basis. I formed many lifelong friendships that summer as we stood united in a cause and fight we all thought was worthy. One of the most powerful events of the strike was our candlelight vigil. Over 500 Nurses gathered in front of the fountain — each holding a lit candle — for a moment of silence. It was one of the most powerful and moving experiences I have ever participated in.
After 52 days, the strike finally ended and we returned to work. The strike of 2000 was difficult and it involved sacrifice, but it remains one of the most professionally-affirming events of my life. CRONA Nurses stood united and we stood together for what we knew was right — and it got us the benefits and rights we have today. Looking ahead to the fight we face today, I know CRONA Nurses have the power and the strength to stand up for what Nurses and patients need and deserve. I have walked the line before, and I am ready to do it again!
In Solidarity,
Fred Taleghani
#KnowYourWorth #CRONAStrong
Nurses Get Ready to Make History 💙💪; April 20, 2022
CRONA in the News
(most current articles on top; see previous newsletters for additional articles)
San Jose Mercury News 4/22: “I’m exhausted”: Why Stanford nurses are preparing to strike
💙💪 Dear CRONA Nurses,
As Nurses, we value straight talk. The hospitals continue to try to undermine our unity with threats and misleading statements. Let’s be clear.
- CRONA Is Still Working and Negotiating for Fair Contracts.
As part of KQED radio’s great coverage this morning of Stanford and Packard Nurses’ struggles, CNO Dale Beatty sent in a statement saying that the hospitals hope the Nurses return to the bargaining table. We never left. The last formal proposal on the table is one we made. And CRONA is continuing to work.
- Even if the Hospitals Ignore the Nearly 30,000 People Who Asked Them to Keep Our Medical Benefits Intact, We Have COBRA Protections.
COBRA provides temporary continuation of your current group health coverage. It also gives you a 60-day period in which to decide whether to elect this continuation coverage.
This means that you do not need to cancel appointments or procedures that you have on calendar. Your health benefits will continue unchanged during the notice period, as if your benefits had not been cancelled.
The hospital is required by law to provide you a packet of information about COBRA coverage that will contain a notice of your right to elect COBRA in a 60-day period.
Before the end of the 60-day period, you will need to decide whether to pay for the continued coverage – and for whom. You can elect to continue the full coverage you currently have, or continue coverage just for yourself, just for your children or spouse, or some combination. If you have had appointments or procedures in this 60-day period, you will need to make the economic choice whether purchasing the COBRA coverage or paying out of pocket is worthwhile. (As discussed in our FAQs, another option is to get basic coverage on Covered California, although if you think that is the best option, you should consider doing that before the end of the 60-day period.)
The hospitals’ threat to terminate medical coverage is appalling, but ultimately federal law – COBRA – provides a mechanism that allows your current benefits to continue uninterrupted if you so choose, and gives you 60 days to decide whether to do so.
In Unity,
Colleen Borges, President
CRONA
Most of us have not been on strike before and could use some advice. In the words of a seasoned nurse, “Stick together, what you do now will bring better contracts for years to come. Be adaptable about working because you don’t know when opportunities will pop up, and make sure you take some time to relax. You’ve earned it.
Additional Tips:
- CHECK YOUR TIMECARD and make any necessary corrections. Packard notified Nurses that they will lose KRONOS access during the strike. You may want to take a screenshot of your timecard so you can verify you were paid correctly.
- EMPTY YOUR LOCKER. You don’t want to return from strike to find that you left something bad-smelling in there. We also don’t know if the replacement nurses will be assigned lockers and we have not been told if lockers will be emptied by the hospital.
- EXCHANGE CONTACT INFORMATION with your coworkers. You will see less of each other during the strike unless you decide to come together to the picket line or meet up outside of work.
You may click the button to sign up for your preferred picketing shifts. It is not a requirement to sign up and you are welcome to join even if the “slots” are filled – the more the better!
These slots are for the Main Hospital SHC/LPCH campus only. There is a separate sign-up for off-sites picketing dates/times, below this section.
We Need You on the Picket Line
Make Your Plan to Picket. There’s no set amount of time you’re required to picket but do plan on spending some time on the picket line. Pick your favorite day and time, make plans to meet your coworkers and check in. Bring your kids! We have sign-ups so we can plan supplies and other logistical aspects of running a picket line and we ask that you sign up for at least one day of the week on the picket line.
Picket Signs: We have signs for you to carry, or you may make your own. Please return signs when you are ready to leave so they may be carried by the Nurse who takes the next shift. Self-made signs should have appropriate slogans, without profanity. Remember, we will be photographed and we want to convey our message clearly.
Strike Lead: There will be at least one person on every picketing shift designated as Strike Lead. Direct your questions and any inquiries from the media to the Strike Lead. This person will be wearing a blue vest to be seen more easily. The Strike Lead must review all self-made signs to ensure they are appropriate.
Do Not Block Access or otherwise misbehave on the picket line. Our presence is an important reminder to the hospitals that they need to come to an agreement with CRONA to end the strike; our purpose is to inform, not block entrances.
COVID protocols: DO NOT come to the picket line if you are symptomatic. Follow all county guidelines for outdoor gatherings. We will have masks available for those who would like to wear one but forgot to bring their own; see the Strike Lead.
Children: Are welcome to come picketing with their parents. Please keep watch over any children you bring to the picket line. Kids are allowed to carry signs – as in photo above. So cute!
Pets: We ask that pets are not brought to the picket line.
Water: We will be outdoors, so staying hydrated is important. We will have a limited supply of bottled water for those who forgot to bring their own bottle.
Sunscreen: We recommend wearing sunscreen as we will be outdoors for 2 or more hours at a time.
Restrooms: Plan your bathroom breaks. We will most likely not be allowed into the hospital to use the restrooms.
We Are Protected - Legal Info About Strike 💙💪; April 21, 2022
CRONA in the News
(most current articles on top; see previous newsletters for additional articles)
KPFA 94.1 FM (audio): Stanford nurses to strike (interview with CRONA VP Kathy Stormberg)
Mother Jones: Stanford Threatens to Cut Health Care for Nurses Who Go on Strike
Nurse.org: Striking Stanford Nurses Will Lose Health Benefits
SF Chronicle: Sutter chain locking out nurses who staged one-day strike
💙💪 Dear CRONA Nurses,
We are focusing on specific topics in our newsletters to ensure you have all the information you need and feel prepared for our strike on Monday, April 25. In this issue we address the legal protections of striking workers.
Your Protections as a Striking Worker
We know that striking is a big step and some folks may be worried. But make no mistake about it: All CRONA-represented Nurses have a legally protected right to participate in CRONA’s strike starting Monday, April 25 at 6:45 am at SHC and 7:00 am at LPCH.
The hospitals agree. Their most recent FAQ (dated April 19) says:
21. Do the CRONA-represented employees have the legal right to strike?
Yes. Under federal Law, the represented nurses have the right to strike upon issuing a 10-day notice to the hospitals.
CRONA provided the required 10-day notice on April 13, more than 10 days before the start of our strike on April 25.
This means you will be protected when you participate in the strike.
- All CRONA-represented Nurses have a legally protected right to strike. That includes new hires and Nurses in your probationary period. CRONA will demand that any contract settlement include an amnesty agreement covering the return of all CRONA Nurses, including Nurses who are in their trial period.
- You cannot legally be fired, disciplined, or punished for striking. CRONA will insist that an amnesty agreement covering the return of all CRONA Nurses be part of any contract settlement.
For more information, see our Strike FAQ.
Do not be intimidated! We have a protected legal right to stand together for each other and our patients. We stand together as CRONA Nurses.
Making new history for CRONA Nurses
Most of us have not been on strike before and could use some advice. In the words of a seasoned nurse, “Stick together, what you do now will bring better contracts for years to come. Be adaptable about working because you don’t know when opportunities will pop up, and make sure you take some time to relax. You’ve earned it.
Additional Tips:
- CHECK YOUR TIMECARD and make any necessary corrections. Packard notified Nurses that they will lose KRONOS access during the strike. You may want to take a screenshot of your timecard so you can verify you were paid correctly.
- EMPTY YOUR LOCKER. You don’t want to return from strike to find that you left something bad-smelling in there. We also don’t know if the replacement nurses will be assigned lockers and we have not been told if lockers will be emptied by the hospital.
- EXCHANGE CONTACT INFORMATION with your coworkers. You will see less of each other during the strike unless you decide to come together to the picket line or meet up outside of work.
You may click the button to sign up for your preferred picketing shifts. It is not a requirement to sign up and you are welcome to join even if the “slots” are filled – the more the better!
These slots are for the Main Hospital SHC/LPCH campus only. There is a separate sign-up for off-sites picketing dates/times, below this section.
We Need You on the Picket Line
Make Your Plan to Picket. There’s no set amount of time you’re required to picket but do plan on spending some time on the picket line. Pick your favorite day and time, make plans to meet your coworkers and check in. Bring your kids! We have sign-ups so we can plan supplies and other logistical aspects of running a picket line and we ask that you sign up for at least one day of the week on the picket line.
Picket Signs: We have signs for you to carry, or you may make your own. Please return signs when you are ready to leave so they may be carried by the Nurse who takes the next shift. Self-made signs should have appropriate slogans, without profanity. Remember, we will be photographed and we want to convey our message clearly.
Strike Lead: There will be at least one person on every picketing shift designated as Strike Lead. Direct your questions and any inquiries from the media to the Strike Lead. This person will be wearing a blue vest to be seen more easily. The Strike Lead must review all self-made signs to ensure they are appropriate.
Do Not Block Access or otherwise misbehave on the picket line. Our presence is an important reminder to the hospitals that they need to come to an agreement with CRONA to end the strike; our purpose is to inform, not block entrances.
COVID protocols: DO NOT come to the picket line if you are symptomatic. Follow all county guidelines for outdoor gatherings. We will have masks available for those who would like to wear one but forgot to bring their own; see the Strike Lead.
Children: Are welcome to come picketing with their parents. Please keep watch over any children you bring to the picket line. Kids are allowed to carry signs – as in photo above. So cute!
Pets: We ask that pets are not brought to the picket line.
Water: We will be outdoors, so staying hydrated is important. We will have a limited supply of bottled water for those who forgot to bring their own bottle.
Sunscreen: We recommend wearing sunscreen as we will be outdoors for 2 or more hours at a time.
Restrooms: Plan your bathroom breaks. We will most likely not be allowed into the hospital to use the restrooms.
📣 CRONA Area Reps: Strike begins for EVERYONE Monday morning at 6:45 am SHC / 7:00 am LPCH; April 20, 2022
📣 Dear CRONA Area Representatives,
We’re writing to make sure it is clear that our strike to begins for EVERYONE on Monday, April 25, at 6:45 am at SHC and 7:00 am at LPCH. CRONA’s formal strike notices list those specific times on April 25 as the time when the strike will begin. To ensure the protection of CRONA’s strike notices, it is important that ALL NURSES walk out at those times – not before and not later.
Nurses should NOT work in any way after Monday at 6:45 am at SHC or 7:00 am at LPCH. For example, Nurses should NOT plan to work Monday and then walk out Tuesday or later. To maximize our strength and to ensure the maximum legal protections, ALL NURSES should walk out together at the specific time that CRONA has noticed the strike will begin Monday morning.
We know that not all SHC areas start at 6:45 a.m. and not all LPCH areas start at 7:00 a.m. This is the most common start time, however, and as noted above – even for off-site areas and clinics – it is important that you do not continue working past this time.
Q: What if the Resource Nurse on my unit starts at 6:15 (SHC) or 6:30 (LPCH)?
A: Then the Nurse reports to work at the scheduled time, and clocks out at 6:45 (SHC) or 7:00 (LPCH).
Q: My area has some Nurses who start at 5:30; do they still go to work?
A: Yes, go to work at your scheduled start time if it is before the start time of the strike (before 6:45 at Stanford or before 7:00 at Packard). You then do hand off to the person taking your place and clock out at the start time of the strike.
Q: My start time is 6:45 at Stanford; do I go into the hospital to my unit?
A: No. You come to the hospital but you go outside to the picket line. We will give a warm welcome to all the night shift nurses on their way out.
Q: My shift time is 7:00 at Packard; do I go into the hospital to my unit?
A: No. You come to the hospital but you go outside to the picket line. We will give a warm welcome to all the night shift nurses on their way out.
Q: I don’t work on Monday, should I come to the picket line?
A: Yes, please come. We want to have a very large crowd of Nurses and allies.
Please make sure the Nurses on your unit understand this. Please also let us know if you have any questions or concerns.
In unity,
Colleen Borges, President
CRONA
Most of us have not been on strike before and could use some advice. In the words of a seasoned nurse, “Stick together, what you do now will bring better contracts for years to come. Be adaptable about working because you don’t know when opportunities will pop up, and make sure you take some time to relax. You’ve earned it. Set up get-togethers with your work friends on the picket line. And make sure you empty your locker before you start the strike; you don’t want to come back to something that smells terrible.”
We Need You on the Picket Line
Make Your Plan to Picket. There’s no set amount of time you’re required to picket but do plan on spending some time on the picket line. Pick your favorite day and time, make plans to meet your coworkers and check in. Bring your kids! We have sign-ups so we can plan supplies and other logistical aspects of running a picket line and we ask that you sign up for at least one day of the week on the picket line.
Picket Signs: We have signs for you to carry, or you may make your own. Please return signs when you are ready to leave so they may be carried by the Nurse who takes the next shift. Self-made signs should have appropriate slogans, without profanity. Remember, we will be photographed and we want to convey our message clearly.
Strike Lead: There will be at least one person on every picketing shift designated as Strike Lead. Direct your questions and any inquiries from the media to the Strike Lead. This person will be wearing a blue vest to be seen more easily. The Strike Lead must review all self-made signs to ensure they are appropriate.
Do Not Block Access or otherwise misbehave on the picket line. Our presence is an important reminder to the hospitals that they need to come to an agreement with CRONA to end the strike; our purpose is to inform, not block entrances.
COVID protocols: DO NOT come to the picket line if you are symptomatic. Follow all county guidelines for outdoor gatherings. We will have masks available for those who would like to wear one but forgot to bring their own; see the Strike Lead.
Children: Are welcome to come picketing with their parents. Please keep watch over any children you bring to the picket line. Kids are allowed to carry signs – as in photo above. So cute!
Pets: We ask that pets are not brought to the picket line.
Water: We will be outdoors, so staying hydrated is important. We will have a limited supply of bottled water for those who forgot to bring their own bottle.
Sunscreen: We recommend wearing sunscreen as we will be outdoors for 2 or more hours at a time.
Restrooms: Plan your bathroom breaks. We will most likely not be allowed into the hospital to use the restrooms.
Update; April 19, 2022
CRONA in the News
Los Altos Town Crier: Local nurses prepare to strike amid shortages
Politico: Nurses at top California hospitals prepare to strike
KGO abc7: 5,000 Stanford nurses and families could lose health insurance if they go on planned strike
Stanford Daily: Stanford nurses prepare for first strike in 20 years
Op-Ed, Stanford Daily: OPINION: From the community | A primer on the Stanford budget, part II
The Guardian: ‘Burnt out and tired’: nurses at leading California hospitals prepare to strike
💙💪 Dear CRONA Nurses,
Dear CRONA Nurses,
Thank you to everyone who signed and circulated the petition asking Stanford and Packard CEOs to rescind their cold-hearted decision to terminate our medical benefits on May 1. To be absolutely clear – and say it loudly for those in the C-Suite – there is no requirement that the hospitals take this cruel action.
Given the hospitals’ outrageous behavior, we understand that it is hard to focus on the real work of negotiations. We start this morning’s email with some “straight talk” about the current status of negotiations.
🔵 The last formal negotiation session was Tuesday, April 12. At that session, the hospitals made their first and only move on wages, as part of a package proposal. CRONA countered with a package proposal that also included a move on wages – namely a proposal for across-the-board increases of 7%, 7%, and 6% in Years 1-3. There has been no formal hospital counter to that proposal.
🔵 The parties have been working with a federal mediator, but have been unable to date to reach an agreement through that process.
🔵 On April 13, CRONA gave notice of its intent to strike beginning April 25. CRONA gave more than the required 10-day notice to the hospitals in an effort to allow the hospitals to plan for adequate patient care.
- Side note: CRONA knows that the hospitals began their contingency planning even before our contracts expired on March 31. They should not be unprepared.
🔵 On April 14, managers started telling Nurses in huddles and other small groups that they should be careful because their medical benefits would be terminated on May 1. CRONA objected to these conversations as intimidating and misleading.
🔵 On Friday, April 15 (when many were celebrating religious holidays), the hospitals solidified their plan to “turn off” medical benefits for all striking Nurses on May 1 – and to not turn them back on until June 1. CRONA notified the hospitals that striking Nurses must remain eligible for coverage if they work at all during May. The hospitals did not agree.
🔵 CRONA launched a petition protesting the CEOs’ decision to cancel medical benefits. After we launched the petition, the hospitals communicated that they were “surprised” by the reaction to their statements on benefits. That petition has more than 26,000 supporters.
🔵 The hospitals continue to threaten Nurses with termination of benefits, but have not agreed to CRONA’s proposals on wages, retiree medical, support for understaffed critical care areas, improved mental health support, and more.
What are they waiting for? Are they waiting to see if their bullying tactics work? Are they waiting to see how many travelers they can get? Or do they just want to see how much those additional travelers cost?
This is no way to treat Nurses who have been loyal to the hospitals throughout a pandemic and endured ever-worsening staffing shortages. It is SHAMEFUL.
CRONA has worked hard to try to reach a fair deal that solves – or begins to solve – the issues that make working at the hospitals so difficult right now. We are serious about that task. We ask the hospitals to also take it seriously. There is still time before the strike.
Meanwhile, CRONA Nurses continue to prepare for the strike and celebrate their unity and their commitment to their profession. Please see the information about upcoming events.
A letter to David Entwistle and Paul King from Assemblymember Ash Kalra, 27th Assembly District; State Senator Josh Becker, 13th Senate District; Assemblymember Marc Berman, 24th Assembly District.
“Cutting off the health care for these frontline health
care workers and their families after they have carried us through a pandemic is not only unnecessary – it is cruel and out of step with the values Stanford and Packard publicly advertise. Having received generous federal funding the last two years, Stanford and Packard health care should not be playing games with nurses’ health care benefits.”
For the full letter, Read HERE
Press Update from Stanford Nurses: Bay Area Electeds Add Their Support April 26, 2022
Elected officials across the Bay Area are calling on Stanford and Packard hospital administrators to recognize the burnout and exhaustion that has pushed nearly 5,000 nurses to go on strike and to rescind the decision to cut off health care for striking nurses. Senator Dave Cortese, representing San Jose and Santa Clara County communities in District 15, where Stanford and Packard have hospitals and clinics, shared in a statement:
“Today I’m proud to stand with thousands of nurses in their righteous fight for better and safer working conditions to protect both themselves and the patients they serve. I encourage everyone to listen to the needs of these frontline heroes who led us through the pandemic and call on Stanford to invest in their nursing staff that are suffering from extreme exhaustion and burnout. We know that our nurses are underpaid and under-appreciated. And that is exactly why I’m authoring Senate Bill 213 in the California Senate to make it easier for registered nurses and other health care workers to access the workers’ compensation system, in line with those protections afforded to other frontline professions. Please know that we stand together with you, by your side, calling for better pay, staffing conditions, and a healthier work environment.”
This follows a letter delivered to the hospitals by Assemblymember Ash Kalra, Assemblymember Marc Berman and State Senator Josh Becker, calling the hospital’s decision “out of step with the values that Stanford and Packard publicly advertise”. Over 30,000 people have signed a petition in support of CRONA nurses, calling on the CEOs to rescind this decision before May 1. Given the hospital’s strong financial standing, in part due to receiving millions in taxpayer-funded Covid-19 relief, Menlo Park City Councilmember, Ray Mueller, called the hospital’s move a “cruel union busting tactic.” He shared in a public statement:
“I’m proud to stand with the thousands of nurses striking for a fair contract and working conditions that will protect themselves and the patients they serve. With Stanford hospitals’ joint operating surplus increasing by $676 million from 2020 to 2021, Stanford is actively choosing to ignore the frontline workers who supported our communities throughout the pandemic. Further, cutting health care to striking nurses is a cruel union busting tactic that is totally unwarranted. I urge Stanford to come back to the bargaining table ready to support the nurses at Stanford through a healthy working environment, safe staffing and better wages.”
Addressing the working conditions that are pushing nurses to the brink is key to establishing sustainability in the nursing profession and ensuring patient safety. As the country faces a massive shortage in nurses, recruitment and retention of nurses will be critical to ensuring a high-quality medical system.
Eileen Pachkofsky — Vice President of CRONA and a nurse at Lucile Packard for 16 years — shared her frustration with the San Jose Mercury News that the hospitals are offering traveling nurses higher salaries than the core nursing staff who have remained loyal employees:
“Nurses are leaving the profession because it’s taking a mental toll on us. We’ve been here for a long time, and when we see other people are making more than us, it just shows that Stanford doesn’t care and this is how they treat their employees. To us, it just shows us, ‘Why are we putting our lives out there, taking time away from our families, making all these sacrifices?’ It’s a slap in the face that we don’t get what we deserve.”
Requesting support in obtaining fair contracts, CRONA delivered a letter to the Board of Trustees at Stanford Health Care and Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital and urged them to ask hospital administrators to immediately rescind their decision to cut health care benefits from striking nurses while negotiations are underway.
CRONA President Colleen Borges today reiterated the nurses’ intent to reach the strongest contracts possible, saying, “We will continue to meet with the hospital bargaining team and the federal mediator and are committed to working hard to reach a fair agreement so we can return to caring for our patients.”
Note for reporters: CRONA will not be sharing details of any mediated discussions occurring today. We will update you if there are public updates.
For inquiries, please email crona@berlinrosen.com.
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A Message for our Bay Area Community
As seen in the SF Chronicle on April 22, 2022.
April 29, 2022 – Joint Statement
Stanford Healthcare (SHC), Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital at Stanford (LPCH), and the Committee for Recognition of Nursing Achievement (CRONA) are pleased to announce a tentative agreement for new collective bargaining agreements. Throughout the negotiations, the parties continued to work in good faith and have now accomplished our shared goal of agreeing on contract terms we can be proud of. Both parties have agreed to work diligently to bring this matter to closure, and we collectively encourage CRONA nurses to vote for ratification so they can return to work and provide excellent patient care to our community.
WHO WE ARE
CRONA’s Negotiations Team
Helina Yilma, RN
SHC, AAU J6 Cardiothoracic/Lung Transplant/Vascular
Nursing Experience: started at SHC as a new graduate 6 years ago. Her experience is in cardiothoracic surgery and heart lung transplant nursing unit.
Fred Taleghani, RN
LPCH, Medical Transport Critical Care
Nursing Experience: 28 years in nursing, including 22 years at LPCH. Experience in pediatric ICU, neonatal ICU, and CVICU critical care transport.
Annamarie Varo, RN
SHC, Clinical Advice Services
Nursing Experience: started at SHC 23 years ago as a surgical tech; RN for 18 years at SHC. Her experience is in operating room and telephone advice nursing.
Chiyieko Sankus, RN
LPCH, Bass Center Float Team
Nursing Experience: 15 years in nursing, all at LPCH. Her experience includes oncology/hematology/stem cell transplant and oncology float team.
Kathy Stormberg, RN
SHC, Imaging Services Float Pool
CRONA Vice President
Nursing Experience: 24 years in nursing, including 18 years at SHC in medical/surgical/neuro ICU, PACU and SAU (Surgery Admission Unit), and outpatient radiology nursing. Other nursing experience includes United States Army Nurse Corps; inpatient med/surg/ortho, PACU, inpatient float pool, labor & delivery, unit manager.
Eileen Pachkofsky, RN
LPCH, Bass Center
CRONA Vice President
Nursing Experience: started as a new graduate 15 years ago at LPCH. Her experience is in newborn nursery and in pediatric hematology, oncology, and stem cell transplant nursing units.
Amy Krehbiel, RN
LPCH, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit
Nursing Experience: 26 years as a nurse, including 23 years in the LPCH neonatal ICU. She also has experience in adult telemetry and ICU.
Kimberley Reed, RN
SHC, ICU J2 Cardiothoracic Surgery
Nursing Experience: started at SHC as a unit clerk 31 years ago and has been a CVICU nurse at SHC for 17 years. Her other nursing experience includes home health and correctional nursing.
Rachel Gratz-Beken, RN
LPCH Bass Center
Nursing Experience: 8 years as a nurse, including 3.5 years in pediatric oncology/hematology/stem cell transplant. Her experience also includes adult medical/surgical/trauma and years of travel nursing from her to Montana and Georgia.
Mark O’Neill, RN
SHC, AAU J5 Cardiac Surgery/Transplant/LVAD
Nursing Experience: started at SHC as a new graduate 2 year ago. Experience in neurovascular and COVID nursing care units, recently transferred to cardiothoracic surgery nursing unit.
Kathleen Casey, RN
LPCH, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Sequoia
Nursing Experience: 30 years as a nurse, 26 of those years at LPCH. Her experience includes inpatient pediatric nursing units, float team, and neonatal ICU at the LPCH satellite unit in Sequoia Hospital.
Sarah Moraga, RN
SHC, AAU J7 Cardiology/Pulmonary Medicine
Nursing Experience: started at SHC as a nursing assistant 26 years ago, and has been an RN at SHC for 25 years. Her experience is inpatient cardiology nursing.
Vanessa Brewer, RN
LPCH, Intermediate Care Nursery
Nursing Experience: started as a new graduate at LPCH 11 years ago. Her experience includes inpatient pediatric nursing and intermediate care nursery.
Jackie Campbell, RN
SHC, Outpatient Surgery Center Pre-op/PACU, Redwood City
Nursing Experience: 28 years in nursing; all but her first year at SHC. Her experience includes PACU and med/surg, home health. During the pandemic she worked many hours in SHC’s vaccination clinics.
Colleen Borges, RN
LPCH Bass Center
CRONA President
Nursing Experience: 27 years in pediatric hematology, oncology, and stem cell transplant at LPCH. Outside LPCH she worked as a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner and lactation specialist working in pediatric outpatient clinics. Inpatient pediatrics, postpartum, newborn nursery, and labor and delivery.
