NEW YORK NURSE: December 2009
A new three-year contract, approved Nov. 6, preserves all benefits for the facility’s 550 RNs – including the defined-benefit pension plan and daily calculation of overtime. Wages will increase 3.5% in 2009, 3.5% in 2010, and 3.0% in 2011. In addition, the percentage of paid days off an RN can buy back at retirement increases from 50% to 70%. Case managers, who were added to the bargaining unit in 2007, were brought up to the wage and benefit levels of the hospital’s staff nurses. Tuition reimbursement was also increased.
Per-diems are now a part of the bargaining unit under a new three-year contract approved Nov. 18. Annual salary increases for the 50 RNs range from 3% to 4.8%, depending on their place on the step system. Their health insurance and pension plans are improved and they will be able to participate in the hospital’s medical flexible spending plan. The contract also extends the number of days RNs have to use their flexible holiday time.