More than 300 nurses and technicians at Armstrong County Memorial Hospital in Kittanning, Pa., ratified new three-year labor contracts that include provisions aimed at addressing patient safety, workplace security and fair scheduling.
The contracts were approved by 90% of nurses and 88% of techs and licensed practical nurses across two unions: the Armstrong County Memorial Hospital Nurses Association and Armstrong County Memorial Hospital Techs & LPNs, which have 210 and 120 members, respectively, according to a Sept. 30 union news release shared with Becker’s.
Both contracts include guaranteed 3% wage increases for each year and add a 17-year step to retain long-tenured employees. The nurses’ contract includes weekend program incentives, offering participating nurses 20% extra pay for weekend shifts.
Each agreement includes expanded workplace violence protections, improved emergency readiness and a stronger joint safety committee. Armstrong County Memorial Hospital committed to exploring additional security measures such as badge access, metal detectors and alarm systems for staff working alone.
“We are very pleased to announce the successful ratification of both the registered nurse and technical contracts, represented by PASNAP,” a hospital spokesperson said in a statement shared with Becker’s. “We are proud of the collaborative and constructive approach that guided these negotiations, and we are confident that the agreements reached reflect a shared commitment to our employees, our patients, and the future of ACMH.”
To address scheduling concerns, the nurses’ contract established a float pool with premium pay, weekend program incentives and double-back protections. Techs and LPNs secured overtime pay parity for 12-hour shift workers and increased compensation for specialized roles, including interventional radiology and CT techs.
The unions are affiliates of Plymouth Meeting, Pa.-based PASNAP, which represents more than 11,000 healthcare professionals statewide.
