Members of 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East have approved a new labor contract with Guthrie (Corning) Hospital.
The three-year agreement covers more than 450 registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, service and maintenance workers, clerical workers, and technicians at the hospital, according to a May 7 union news release.
Highlights of the deal, per 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East, include:
- An 8.5% general wage increase over the life of the contract (2.75% in the first two years and 3% in the third year).
- Additional wage increases for union members working in 14 different job classifications.
- A minimum wage of $17 per hour, an additional wage increase of 3.25%, for approximately 70 service workers.
- Increases in employer-provided pension contributions.
- Language establishing that workers who meet certain criteria may retire before age 65 with their full pension benefits.
- Increases to charge pay and night shift differentials, along with improvements to float pay and additional pay for certifications.
- Preservation of health insurance benefits with minimal changes.
“We had a diverse negotiating team representing our fellow employees,” Beth Fisher, RN, said in the union release.
“We all worked together toward a common goal — safe staffing incentives, health insurance we can all live with, and market rate adjustments, and pension improvements to assist with recruitment and retention to continue the high-quality patient care at Corning Hospital.”
In a news release shared with Becker’s, Guthrie Corning Hospital President Paul VerValin shared the following statement:
“We are grateful to have reached consensus on key points, including fair enhancements for caregivers in the union,” Mr. VerValin said.
“We look forward to working with union members and all caregivers at Corning Hospital on our shared mission — continuing to provide high-quality, safe care and experience for our patients for the next three years and beyond.”
Guthrie Corning Hospital is part of the Guthrie Clinic, a Sayre, Pa.-based nonprofit multispecialty health system with more than 9,000 caregivers.