BUFFALO (WBEN) - Thursday night, a tentative agreement was reached reached to bring an immediate end to the healthcare worker strike at Mercy Hospital.
Some of the highlights of the agreement:
-A four-year agreement with common expiration dates for all Hospitals
-Average RN wage increase 6.3% in first year of contract retroactive to June
-Average STC (Service, Technical, Clerical) wage Increase 8.4% in first year of contract retroactive to June
-No worker will start below $15 per hour
-General Wage Increases
- 2% effective June 2022
- 2.5% effective June 2023
- 2.75% effective June 2024
-Average RN compounded wage increase over the life of the contract is 14.19%
-Average STC compounded wage increase over the life of the contract is 16.45%
-New staffing language includes ratios that will need to be fully in effect by January 1, 2023
-Critical Care: ratios of 1:2 or 1:1 (dependent on acuity) with a ratio of 1:5 for ancillary staff
-Ratios include a significant increase in nurse’s aides and ITA's as well as commitments on clerical staff, respiratory and EVS
-Bonus pay for picking up additional shifts as well as an additional penalty added on to the bonus pay if the staffing ratios are not met
To read more highlights of the deal, click here.
In a statement to WBEN, a CWA spokesperson said they "are not planning to issue any further statements or hold any press conferences until after ratification, as the focus right now is educating members on the contracts and giving them a chance to ask questions."
Informational meetings are being held for members on Saturday and voting will take place over the weekend and on Monday. The earliest we may know of ratification is Monday night.
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