Settlement Reached for the Prime9

The four UNAC/UHCP-St. Francis Registered Nurses Association members who were unfairly terminated have reached a settlement with Prime Healthcare-St. Francis Medical Center.

Scott Byington, SFRNA President Emeritus, James Blankenship, Maricela Barajas, and Arlene Nielsen successfully reached a substantial settlement reflecting the unfair terminations that occurred in December 2023.

Scott, James, Maricela, and Arlene stayed united in their one-and-a-half year battle against Prime Healthcare-SFMC and the terminations that occurred after they participated in an action during a picket in the 2023 SFRNA contract negotiations. That action played a pivotal role in advancing negotiations between Prime-SFMC and SFRNA and our reaching a good contract settlement in 2023.

Our SFRNA Officers Maria Nunez, President; Ahsan Haque, Treasurer; and Alicia Ambriz, Secretary; along with Sandi Marques,UNAC/UHCP-SFRNA Staff Representative, are thankful for all their years of service at SFMC, union activism and solidarity. Their roles in support of SFRNA and UNAC/UHCP over the past 25 years had a positive impact on achieving some of the best contracts with various employers and through bankruptcy.

Scott Byington served as SFRNA President, VP, and on the UNAC/UHCP Board of Directors. Scott, James, Maricela, and Arlene have chosen to move on from SFMC and we know they will flourish in their new adventures, but they will be dearly missed and always in our hearts.

Scott, James, Maricela, and Arlene had filed individual lawsuits against the hospital, and UNAC/UHCP filed Unfair Labor Practice charges and grievances against Prime-SFMC. Jun Lim, UNAC/UHCP Legal Director, worked on the UNAC/UHCP-SFRNA settlement portion. As part of the overall settlement the grievances will be withdrawn and a request to withdraw the ULP will be submitted to the National Labor Relations Board.

Jun Lim on behalf of UNAC/UHCP-SFRNA was also able to successfully negotiate the restoration of access to SFMC for Karina Leon, UNAC/UHCP Member Engagement, who suffered the unfair removal of access to SFMC after the 2023 action.

Thank you Scott, James, Maricela, and Arlene, for showing us that when we stand in solidarity and fight for what is right, we can win in the face of injustice.