Contact:

Ann Kettering Sincox, MNA
517.349.5640, ext. 242 or (cell) 517.230.4086
ann.sincox@minurses.org

or

Cindy LaFountain, MNA
517.349.5640, ext. 218 or (cell) 517.282.5202
lisa.harrison@minurses.org

March 21, 2008

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

New contract at Allegan General Hospital includes staffing language for RNs

Okemos, MI – The registered nurses at Allegan General Hospital, represented by the Michigan Nurses Association (MNA), have ratified a three year contract which includes new staffing language. As part of the negotiations, stand alone meetings that include managers and nurses will meet each month to concentrate on nurse to patient staffing in each unit. A new staffing matrix will allow nurses and managers to effectively evaluate on a quarterly basis important statistics such as the nurse to patient ratio, how much overtime is being employed, and how often agency nurses are used.

“The great thing about the new staffing matrix is that allows the nurses and the managers to truly analyze and address any areas that are not experiencing optimal patient care,” said Cindy LaFountain, MNA Labor Representative. “By evaluating this data and sharing the information, the nurses will have an effective voice in providing quality patient care. This is an excellent benefit for the nurses, the hospital and the patients.”

In addition, the registered nurses will receive an increase of .30 an hour in night shift differential and an added float position differential of $1.50 an hour. Pay retroactive to October 2007, when the contract expired, will be provided with pay scale increases during each year of the contract. The nurses will see a 10.5% increase in pay over the life of the three-year contract.

An increase in health insurance premiums will be absorbed by the nurses but there are now three options of health insurance to choose from in regard to deductibles and coverage.

MNA represents 60 registered nurses at Allegan General Hospital.

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