Willmar, Minn.-based Rice Memorial Hospital and its registered nurses, represented by the Minnesota Nurses Association, have reached a three-year contract, according to a West Central Tribune report.
Here are four things to know about the contract.
1. It provides nurses an annual pay increase of 2 percent across the board from 2016 to 2018, as well as a market adjustment each year.
2. Tyler Santjer, vice chair of the Rice Hospital MNA bargaining unit, in a statement called the contract "a fair agreement that brings us into line with comparable hospitals in our area," according to the West Central Tribune.
3. According to the report, Rice Hospital CEO Mike Schramm said the hospital expected that market adjustments would be necessary in negotiating a new contract, according to the report. "The market without a doubt continues to move… Recruiting and retaining RNs, along with other staff, is becoming more of a challenge," he added.
4. The contract was ratified by RNs Oct. 1, and approved Wednesday by the hospital's board of directors.