FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 19, 2022
CONTACT: Kristi Barnes | kristi.barnes@nysna.org | 646-853-4489
A Supermajority of Members Approve New Contract with Retention of Excellent Healthcare Coverage in the NYSNA Benefit Fund, Significant Wage Increases and Retention Bonuses, COVID-19 Health and Safety Demands and Expanded Staffing Committee
Plattsburgh, N.Y. — The New York State Nurses Association (NYSNA) healthcare professionals at UVM-Champlain Valley Physicians Hospital (CVPH) voted by an overwhelming supermajority to ratify a new two-year contract. A tentative agreement on a new contract was reached last week, shortly after NYSNA healthcare professionals voted to authorize a strike by a margin of more than 90%.
The new contract includes many provisions that NYSNA members prioritized in the nearly two years of contract negotiations with the hospital, including:
- Members retain excellent healthcare coverage in NYSNA Benefit Fund
- 6% wage increase (first full pay period after ratification)
- 6% wage increase July 2023
- $2,000 retention bonus paid January 2023
- $750 retention bonus paid October 2023
- Expanded Staffing Committee
- Elastomeric respirators for all NYSNA members
- Expanded clinical ladder for non-RNs to incentivize retention and highly trained staff
- Unrationed onsite testing while under pandemic/epidemic conditions
- Expanded Jury Duty language for night and evening shift workers
NYSNA-CVPH healthcare professionals hope the new contract will improve the facility’s ability to hire and retain the staff needed to provide quality care. The new contract will expire December 31, 2023.
“After an incredibly challenging two years of working through a global pandemic and an unlawful hospital restructure which led to the elimination of health services for our community, an exodus of experienced healthcare professionals, and unsafe staffing levels in many areas of the hospital, we are hopeful that this new contract will help us turn the page,” said Kenney Millington, RN. “Our community deserves safe staffing and essential healthcare services, and this new contract helps solidify CVPH’s commitment to its healthcare professionals and patients.”
Vicki Davis-Courson, RN said: “My colleagues and I were excited to vote for a new contract that respects our hard work and the care we provide to our community, as well as our own health and safety. We knew that the UVM Health System could invest healthcare resources on this side of the lake and settle a fair contract if we continued to advocate strongly for our patients. I am proud that we spoke out and achieved so many provisions that will help us deliver safe, quality care to our patients.”
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The New York State Nurses Association (NYSNA) represents more than 42,000 members in New York State. We are New York’s largest union and professional association for registered nurses. For more information, go to www.nysna.org
