For Immediate Release
Contact: Robin Wood, 518.782.9400, ext 223
NYACK, NY, July 30, 2010 – Registered nurses who are members of the New York State Nurses Association yesterday voted to ratify a new three-year contract with Nyack Hospital. The agreement maintains comparable health insurance for the registered nurses, a key point of contention in negotiations which had been going on since last fall.
As the nurses worked to negotiate a fair contract, they were mindful of strengthening an environment that supported quality care and ensured the best possible patient outcomes. One important goal was to make the hospital’s nurse retention and recruitment efforts more competitive, which was addressed by improvements in benefits including staff development and tuition reimbursement.
“We are pleased to have reached a satisfactory agreement and are moving forward to continue working with hospital management to provide the high quality care our community deserves,” said AnnaMarie Perkins, RN, president of the Nyack Hospital bargaining unit.
The contract, which is retroactive to Jan. 1, 2010 and runs through 2013, includes a 9.1 percent wage increase over the three years for the Nyack Hospital RNs, as well as maintaining a comparable health insurance benefit as the hospital changes health insurance providers.
“We provide health care to people every day, and understand how important good health insurance is,” Perkins said.
The New York State Nurses Association is the voice for nursing in the Empire State. With more than 36,000 members, it is the state's largest professional association and largest union for registered nurses. It supports nurses and nursing practice through education, research, legislative advocacy, and collective bargaining.
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