On March 30, members of the New York State Nurses Association at Westchester Medical Center-HealthAlliance Hospital in Kingston, N.Y., part of Valhalla, N.Y.-based WMCHealth, ratified a new labor contract.
The agreement covers about 300 nurses at the hospital, a union spokesperson told Becker’s.
According to the union, the three-year deal includes workplace safety upgrades such as improved locks, weapon detection systems at hospital entrances and increased security personnel, as well as maintained staffing standards.
The contract also includes wage increases ranging from 16% to 33% over the life of the agreement, additional pay incentives, preserved health benefits and safeguards on the use of AI.
“Over the last few months, nurses have been fighting for a contract that ensures the hospital [has] a plan to recruit and retain nurses to ensure safe patient care,” NYSNA President Nancy Hagans, BSN, RN, said in a March 31 news release. “Nurses shouldn’t go to work fearing for the safety of their patients or colleagues. This contract is a win for the entire Kingston community and shows that when nurses speak out, they improve care for their communities,” she said.
A WMCHealth spokesperson told Becker’s, “Patient care is at the heart of every decision WMCHealth makes. We are happy to have reached a new three-year collective bargaining agreement with NYSNA that recognizes the critical role our nurses play in delivering first-class care to our patients, while strengthening compensation and benefits which will strengthen our ability to recruit and retain exceptional nurses who are such an important part of our care team. This has always been and will continue to be a priority for WMCHealth as we work together with our nurses at HealthAlliance Hospital to continue to provide the best medical care for our patients.”
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