1,500 Tenet RNs at 7 Hospitals Petition for Election to Join Calif. Nurses Assn., Cite Concerns on Staffing, Retirement Security.

News Editors/Business Editors/Health/Medical Writers

LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 1, 2003

Registered Nurses at seven Los Angeles area hospitals that are part of the Tenet Healthcare chain will petition the federal labor board today for a representation election to join the California Nurses Association, the state's largest organization of nurses.

Brotman Medical Center in Culver City, Centinela Hospital Medical Center in Inglewood, Daniel Freeman-Marina Hospital in Marina del Rey, Los Alamitos Medical Center, Mission Hospital and Community Hospital of Huntington Park, and Suburban Medical Center in Paramount are the hospitals covered by the petitions.

Secret ballot elections for the 1,500 RNs could be held within six weeks. The National Labor Relations Board would conduct the votes. CNA already represents more than 1,000 Tenet RNs at five other hospitals and is the largest RN organization in the Tenet system. Overall, CNA represents 50,000 RNs.

Tenet, the nation's second largest for-profit hospital chain, has been beset by numerous federal and state investigations into its billing practices. CNA notes that the high gross prices Tenet charges payers does not translate to improved staffing in its hospitals or competitive compensation and benefits for its RNs and other caregivers.

"Throughout California, Tenet RNs are telling us they need a genuine voice in patient care protections, they need retirement security for themselves and their families, and they want to join an RN organization that has an unparalleled record of advocacy for RNs and patients," said CNA Executive Director Rose Ann DeMoro.

Tenet RNs cite severe staffing issues that compromise safe patient care, the lack of a secure retirement plan, and substandard salaries. Tenet's failure to address those concerns undermines its ability to retain experienced RNs and recruit new RNs, CNA says.

In the past year, CNA had negotiated dramatic gains in pension benefits, post-retirement medical benefits, pay, and patient care standards for over 30,000 California RNs.

As a result of those gains, including those at two of the largest hospitals in Los Angeles County, UCLA Medical Center and Long Beach Memorial Medical Center, increasing numbers of Tenet RNs have contacted CNA to discuss an affiliation. In addition to the seven where CNA filed today, RNs at more than a dozen other Tenet facilities have also been in discussions with CNA.