NEW YORK NURSE: November/December 2011

NY Presbyterian RNs approve contract extension

by Mark Genovese

NYSNA turned up the heat on management negotiators at New York’s other major medical centers when it reached agreement with New York-Presbyterian Hospital on a four-year extension to their contract.

The agreement came after more than a year of intense contract negotiations.

NYSNA believes this agreement meets the needs of the 3,000 RNs for affordable health insurance, safer patient staffing, and decent wages for one of the most skilled nurse workforces in the nation.

“As a result of these negotiations, we believe Presbyterian management has gained a better sense of the nurses’ concerns for practice, their families, and their futures,” said Thomas Darby, NYSNA labor representative. “They now understand that the nurses have the right to choose to put money toward benefits rather than salary.”

“Management’s understanding and commitment to address not only health insurance, but staffing and other concerns was essential to settling this contract and avoiding the disruption of a strike,” Darby added.

Highlights of the agreement:

Health and pension – The contract has been extended for four years, which ensures that the Nurses Association Health Benefit Plan will continue without employee health premium contributions. The contract will now expire on Jan 1, 2015. The association’s pension plan will also continue without change.
Staffing – RN-to-patient staffing guidelines have been improved. Nursing management has expressed its commitment to improving the effectiveness of joint labor/management staffing committees by instituting a more data-driven approach when analyzing and addressing problem staffing areas.
Compensation – Base and per-diem salary rates increased 9% over the life of the contract. A certified employee who moves from one field or area of specialization to another will continue to receive their current certification differential until the certification expires.
Scheduling – Per-diem RNs will not be sent home mid-shift. The vacation scheduling system was standardized.
Retirement health – While hospital contributions to the Nurses Association Retirement Health Fund will be suspended for two years, the fund will continue to provide agreed-upon benefits. This money will instead be put toward RN salaries.

This solution to the health insurance issue was being reviewed at press time by the trustees of the Benefit Fund. Contingency plans were developed during negotiations to ensure the nurses would still have affordable comprehensive health insurance if the employer trustees turned down this provision.