MASSACHUSETTS NURSE NEWSLETTER :: March 2007

Providence RNs approve agreement
Settlement includes improvements in pay, technology

After seven negotiation sessions, the MNA nurses at Providence Hospital in Holyoke recently approved a new three-year contract. “We feel very good about this agreement,” said Diane Michael, RN and chair of the bargaining unit. “We got most of our important proposals recognized in the contract. This will allow us to have three more years of labor peace here at Providence. We are particularly satisfied with the outstanding language on technology that will allow for our input as new bedside technology is considered and implemented.”

The agreement includes extensive language that requires the MNA’s participation in and notification of any changes in technology that may potentially impact the RNs. This provision creates a joint labor/management technology committee. With representation on this committee, the MNA will participate in decisions about training and in the purchase and implementation of new technology.

Also under the new contract the union and management have agreed to make the staffing advisory committee more responsive to the staff nurses who file reports. Now this committee will review all unsafe staffing reports within seven days, and managers will report back to involved staff within 14 days.

The nurses will receive a 15 percent pay increase over the three years of the contract and will see improved compensation for night, evening and weekend work. The staff nurses are particularly pleased with the differential increases because they now are competitive with other area hospitals.

“We put a lot of time and energy into these negotiations,” added Michael. “And I believe we came away with very positive results for the nurses and the patients. Now it is time to get back to what we do best: providing quality care to our patients.”

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