Contact: Jessica Salazar, MNA
517/349-5640, ext. 219 or (cell) 517/896-8843

or Jeff Breslin, RN, President PECSH
517/364-5111

or Carol Feuss, MNA
517/349-5640, ext. 21 or (cell) 517/230-4086
 
November 20, 2007

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Sparrow health care professionals ratify new three-year contract

Okemos, MI -- Registered nurses and other health care professionals at Sparrow Hospital, represented by the Michigan Nurses Association, ratified a new three-year contract. The term of the contract is November 1, 2007 – October 30, 2010.

The contract addresses a number of health and safety issues including becoming a latex-free health system by November 2008. The contract also calls for a pilot program that would provide “lift teams” for areas of the hospital that have the most patient moving related employee injuries. Following the pilot program, a hospital-wide “lift team” will also be implemented, which should increase both patient satisfaction and employee recruitment and retention.

“Sparrow leadership has committed to protecting the health and safety of the professional bargaining unit members. In addition to becoming latex free and the implementation of “lift teams”, Sparrow will offer employees free smoking cessation classes, counseling, and over the counter and prescription medications for six months after the Sparrow campus goes smoke free," said Marianne George, RN, BSN, Clinical Nurse Educator and co-chair of the Associate Health Management Committee. Sparrow has targeted January 1, 2008 as the date to implement their smoke-free policy.

The RNs and other health care professionals will have a 3% general salary increase in each of the three years. Professionals whose pay is below the maximum annual wage range will move up one step in the pay scale. The contract also has improvements in charge pay differential, tuition reimbursement and a new preceptor pay. There were no changes in the healthcare coverage or expenses.

The hospital also committed to hire more than 30 new FTE (full-time equivalent) staff to reduce overtime and on-call. The level of overtime and extra work hours will be monitored and evaluated monthly during the term of the contract.

"We are thrilled to have a contract that will continue to keep our nurses and health professionals well compensated, and meet their future retirement needs as well,” said Scott Wolschleger, RPh, Vice Chair of the Professional Employees Council of Sparrow Hospital (PECSH) negotiating committee.

Nearly 1,900 registered nurses, medical technologists, physical therapists, pharmacists and other healthcare professionals at Sparrow Hospital are represented by the Michigan Nurses Association.

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