Contact:
David Perlove, Labor Representative
906/226-2701
OR
Ann Sincox
Editor, Michigan Nurse
Michigan Nurses Association
517/349-5640, ext. 42 or (cell) 517/256-2312
July 20, 2005
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Baraga RNs gain new three-year contract
Health insurance costs, wages
key in new contract
L’Anse, MI – The Registered Staff Nurses
at Baraga County Memorial Hospital, represented
by the Michigan Nurses Association (MNA), ratified
a new three-year contract on July 19, 2005.
The contract provides an 11% increase wages over
the term of the contract. Benefit improvements include
increases in shift differentials, emergency room
assignment and call-in premiums, and weekend premiums.
Health insurance premiums will not be increased
while stipends for opting out of health insurance
have been improved. The pact will include free preventive
health exams, with the hospital continuing to pay
100% of the single subscriber health insurance rate
for retirees between the ages of 62 and 65.
Settlement was reached after four bargaining sessions
and one day of mediation. “While the negotiations
proved challenging at times,” said Cindy Lundy,
RN, Baraga Staff Council Chairperson, “I am
pleased that we were able to arrive at a satisfactory
settlement which improves wages and guarantees no
increases in health insurance costs to the RNs.”
“I appreciate the fact that Baraga management
did not propose to increase the cost of health insurance
for the registered nurses,” said David Perlove,
MNA Labor Representative. “In a climate of
spiraling health insurance costs, the freezing of
premiums for the RNs is an attractive benefit for
improving the retention and recruitment of nurses.”
The MNA represents approximately 28 Staff Registered
Nurses at Baraga County Memorial Hospital. The MNA
also represents the nursing supervisors at the hospital
who are covered by a separate agreement that will
be re-negotiated in late 2005.
###
The Michigan Nurses Association,
nurses’ voice for 100 years, is the largest
nurses’ union in the State of Michigan.
The Michigan Nurses Association (MNA) promotes
the economic and general welfare of nurses in
the workplace, fosters high standards of nursing
practice, and lobbies the legislature and regulatory
agencies on health care issues affecting nurses
and recipients of nursing services. MNA is a constituent
member of the American Nurses Association and
the United American Nurses, as well as an affiliate
of the AFL-CIO.
7/20/05
