St. Elizabeth Medical Center nurses approve new contract

UTICA, Nov. 6, 2009 – Registered nurses at St. Elizabeth Medical Center this afternoon approved a new three-year contract that will keep the facility competitive with other surrounding hospitals during this nursing shortage in which RNs are in high demand.

The 550 RNs are represented by the New York State Nurses Association. The contract that preserves all of the nurses' benefits – including the defined-benefit pension plan and daily calculation of overtime.

Other provisions include:

Wage increases of 3.5% in 2009, 3.5% in 2010, and 3.0% in 2011.
An increase in the percentage of paid days off an RN can buy back at retirement from 50% to 70%.
Increased tuition reimbursement.
Case managers, who were added to the bargaining unit in 2007, were brought up to wage and benefit level of the hospital’s staff nurses.

The nurses are pleased to have attained a contract that ensures the future stability of the nursing workforce and ensures that St. Elizabeth Medical Center will continue to provide the very highest quality of medical care to its patients.

The New York State Nurses Association is the voice for nursing in the Empire State. With more than 37,000 members, it is the state's largest union and professional association for registered nurses. It supports nurses and nursing practice through education, research, legislative advocacy, and collective bargaining.

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