Registered nurses at USC University Hospital and USC Norris Cancer Hospital have voted to ratify a contract between USC and the California Nurses Association (CNA). The three-year contract is effective January 1, 2011, through December 31, 2013.

Hospital leaders commended the negotiating teams on both sides for successfully reaching a mutual understanding that meets the needs of hospital nurses and the organization.

“Throughout this process, we made every effort to listen to and understand the needs of our nurses, while also keeping in mind our unique needs as an academic medical center. We appreciate CNA’s willingness to do the same,” said USC hospitals CEO Mitch Creem. “This contract is just one example of our mutual commitment to building a truly outstanding medical center for USC. We look forward to this new partnership with CNA that continues to put our patients first.”

This is the first time CNA and USC have negotiated a contract. Highlights of the contract include:

• Continued annual wage increases beginning July 1 of this year;
• Additional pay for registered nurses who serve as preceptors;
• Eligibility in USC’s Retirement Savings Plan beginning July 1 of this year;
• Eligibility in USC’s Tuition Assistance and Tuition Exchange programs;
• Recognition of Martin Luther King Jr. Day as a paid holiday;
• Centralized scheduling of “premium” shifts, or shifts that will provide overtime or extra shift bonuses.

USC acquired USC University Hospital and USC Norris Cancer Hospital from Tenet Healthcare in 2009. CNA had a four-year contract with Tenet Healthcare, which ended Dec. 31, 2010.

Negotiations between USC and CNA began on Oct. 20, 2010. CNA represents more than 600 registered nurses at both USC University Hospital and USC Norris Cancer Hospital.