Nurses and healthcare professionals represented by the Maine State Nurses Association ratified a three year contract at Maine Coast Memorial Hospital in Ellsworth late last week. Nurses won:
·Staffing language improvements in two units including safe core staffing minimums and safe floating language in the OB and acuity and charge nurse language in the Medical/Surgical department.
·8.5% rate increase over the term of the contract.
·Strengthened retirement plan and more flexibility in the use of PTO
MCMH has a tradition of a maintaining a well-staffed facility with safe nurse to patient ratios based on acuity. The MSNA bargaining team was committed to having those practices reflected in the contract in order for safe and effective care to continue into the future.
“Nurses around the state are very proud of the work done by nurses at MCMH to protect safe staffing and to make gains in wages and benefits. This is an uncertain time to be a patient in an economy that does not prioritize a single standard of safe patient care. But the dedication of these nurses is clear – patients and those who care for them should be valued and that is the work that MSNA will continue around the State and the nation.” Cokie Giles, RN, President of MSNA/NNU.
MSNA/NNU represents over 2,000 nurses who work in facilities and agencies throughout the state of Maine. As the largest organization of nurses in the state, MSNA/NNU is committed to improving the standards of nursing and patient care through collective bargaining, advocacy and organizing. MSNA is part of the National Nurses United representing over 180,000 RNs nation wide.
MSNA/NNOC/NNU
160 Capitol Street, Suite 1
Augusta, Maine 04330
(207) 622-1057
fax (207) 623-4072
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