Pasadena, CA – Nurses at Kaiser Permanente Moreno Valley celebrated as a tentative agreement was reached between the Coalition of Kaiser Permanente Unions and Kaiser on Friday. The agreement promises to deliver much-needed improvements for frontline healthcare workers across the hospital system. Kaiser Moreno Valley nurses represented by SEIU 121RN—who are also members of the Coalition—participated in the historic three day strike last week and were prepared to strike again next month if a deal could not be reached.

“We were here for our communities and Kaiser during the pandemic,” said Justin Seronko, an RN who works at Kaiser Permanente Hospital Moreno Valley.

“We suffered without proper supplies and were short staffed, yet we expected that when the time came, Kaiser would recognize and respect our commitment to our patients. It took a strike and the threat of another, but that commitment to workers is here in this agreement. We showed the world that Nurses and healthcare workers are not afraid to stand up for respect—for our patients and families,” Seronko said.

The tentative agreement includes significant measures to address the staffing crisis at Kaiser hospitals, with economic incentives aimed at recruiting and retaining experienced nurses.

“This agreement will help us attract experienced nurses and to keep the staff we have. That means better morale for nurses, and a safer hospital for everyone,” said Jackie Napoles, a Kaiser Moreno Valley Operating Room nurse, and member of the union’s bargaining team.

The Moreno Valley nurses will continue to bargain for their local contract in direct negotiations with the hospital, where staffing and patient safety are prominent concerns. Once ratified, the two contracts will operate in tandem to guarantee wage increases, benefits, working conditions and more.

“Healthcare workers have shown immense sacrifice in the last three years while healthcare companies like Kaiser have reaped billions in profit. Workers are understaffed, facilities and supplies squeezed at the detriment of patient care,” said Rosanna Mendez, Executive Director of SEIU 121RN.

Kaiser’s frontline healthcare workers finally said ‘enough’ and took it to the streets to demand a contract that values their work and respects their sacrifice. This agreement is a solid step in the right direction, and the achievement should give a boost of confidence for Kaiser Moreno Valley nurses as they continue to seek improvements in their local contract,” said Mendez.