Contact:

Contact: Anita Szczepanski, MNA
517/349-5640, x31 or 517/927-7710
anita.szczepanski@minurses.org

or

Carol Feuss, MA
Labor Communications Specialist
Michigan Nurses Association
517/349-5640, ext. 21 or (cell) 517/230-4086
carol.feuss@minurses.org

October 13, 2006

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

RNS AT MID MICHIGAN DISTRICT HEALTH DEPARTMENT RATIFY NEW CONTRACT

Ithaca, MI – Mid Michigan District Health Department (MMDHD) registered nurses ratified a three-year contract that includes wage increases of 2.5% in the first year, 2% in the second year and 2.5% in the third year. There was also a wage adjustment made to the top half of the wage scale based on market analysis.

The nurses will also have the value of their life insurance doubled, and will now be able to opt in to a long term disability program, at their cost. There was minimal change to the health insurance premiums costs for the nurses and they were able to maintain the current premium caps that the Department pays. Additionally, the Department agreed to pay 50% of a RNs licensing and credentialing fees, up to $150 per year. The RNs will see additional improvements in their bereavement and sick time language policies.

The RNs also negotiated a National Disaster Release Time provision to allow RNs to respond to a disaster and receive one week of pay from the Department, before using their own paid-time off. The RNs also obtained contract language on flexible schedules, part of a new policy the Department is trialing, which allows RNs to work schedules other than the normal five 8 hour days.

The contract must still be ratified by the Board of Commissioners which meets on October 25, 2006.

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 .