News & Events
Nurses gain in wage re-opener
05.12.2011
Contact:
Ann Sincox
517.256.2312
ann.sincox@minurses.org
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Sault Ste. Marie, MI – The registered nurses at War Memorial Hospital, represented by the Michigan Nurses Association, have successfully negotiated a wage re-opener with a new wage ladder and salary increases as the result. Base rates for the nurses will increase from .30 to .50 beginning with the first pay period after the ratification is signed. Increases will be seen every six months, with the last step increase being given on January 1, 2013.
The wage increases will cover moderate increases to the nurses’ health insurance plan, which will take place on January 1, 2012. Costs will stay the same through the life of the contract, and will be reviewed on December 31, 2013. The benefits of the health insurance plan have remained the same.
“We are pleased that we were able to limit the amount of health insurance premium contributions that the nurse will begin paying,” said Anita Szczepanski, MNA Labor Attorney. “Especially since the employer’s first position was for the nurses to pay 25% of the premiums. The amounts we ended up with are significantly less than 25% and with the wage increases, the nurses will be able to earn enough to cover the additional health costs plus still be taking more home in their check at the end of the day. We felt that locking in the rates for the remainder of the contract was a benefit worth agreeing to, and we accomplished our goal of getting the nurses back on a step increase system.”
Nurses agreed to the elimination of time and a half for short notice shifts. A nurse is not required to work these shifts on short notice but if they chose to, they would still be entitled to time and a half after 40 hours in a week.
MNA has been the collective bargaining agent for the nurses since 2007 and represents 148 nurses at War Memorial Hospital.
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The Michigan Nurses Association is the largest, most effective union for RNs in Michigan. As the voice of all registered nurses in Michigan, MNA advocates for nurses and their patients at the State Capitol, in the community, and at the bargaining table. MNA is a constituent member of National Nurses United and an affiliate of the AFL-CIO.
