Santa Clarita Valley nurses to hold solidarity candlelight vigil as they begin contract negotiations

RNs at Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Hospital to hold candlelight vigil for patient safety

Registered nurses represented by California Nurses Association/National Nurses United (CNA/NNU) at Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Hospital, in Valencia, Calif., will hold a solidarity candlelight vigil on Monday, Dec.16, as they begin negotiations for a new union contract. Nurses' current contract will expire on Jan. 22, 2025, and RNs say their priorities for a new contract are improving patient care and working conditions at the hospital. CNA represents more than 600 nurses at Henry Mayo.

Nurses are holding the vigil for patient safety and to highlight their solidarity with each other, their patients, and the community they care for. RNs want hospital administration to address their patient safety concerns and nurse recruitment and retention. They began bargaining for a new contract on Dec. 4.

"We do this work because we love providing quality care to our patients, but we need a commitment from Henry Mayo to support us with safe staffing, resource nurses, and a strong contract to recruit and retain experienced staff nurses," said Amber Richardson, RN in the labor and delivery unit and member of the bargaining team. Henry Mayo is our community's only hospital, and we value the quality of care we provide."

Who: RNs at Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Hospital
What: Candlelight Vigil for Solidarity
When: Monday, Dec. 16, 6:30 p.m.
Where: Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Hospital, 23845 McBean Pkwy, Valencia, CA (at the intersection of McBean Pkwy. and Orchard Village Rd.)

"I've been a nurse at Henry Mayo on-and-off since 2018," said Danielle Shearer, RN in the definitive observation unit and member of the bargaining team. "My mom was a nurse here for 16 years. My family has lived in Santa Clarita for 29 years. This is a wonderful community. Nurses are holding this vigil to express how much we love serving our patients and want to provide the best possible care now and in the coming years."

California Nurses Association/National Nurses United is the largest and fastest-growing union and professional association of registered nurses in the nation with more than 100,000 members in more than 200 facilities throughout California and nearly 225,000 RNs nationwide.