New contract language first for MNA

For the first time, an MNA contract has addressed the recent ruling by the National Labor Relations Board regarding the definition of a supervisor. Bay Area Medical Center in Marinette, Wisconsin recently ratified a new contract that specifically addresses and protects the rights of nurses from being ineligible for union representation due to perceived supervisory duties.

“Having this language in the contract is key for the nurses at BAMC,” explains David Perlove, MNA Labor Representative. “Over the past few years, we’ve worked hard to empower the nurses in determining how they staff each individual unit. For us not to have this language would be a step backwards for the nurses in having such a decisive say in their own staffing.”

This isn’t “cookie cutter” language, Perlove warns. Each collective bargaining contract is different and supervisory language needs to be evaluated based on the individual workplace. But for the Bay Area Medical Center nurses, the new contract language is a perfect fit!

Occupational and environmental safety coupled with an employee wellness program is a strong focus of the contract. BAMC has two established committees with nurses serving on them: The Environment of Care Committee and the Employee Wellness Committee. Both MNA and BAMC agree that collaboration on efforts toward occupational and environmental safety and employee wellness are in the best interest of both parties.

The registered nurses negotiated a 10% wage increase over the term of the agreement. i