Nurse bargainers reach tentative deal with Ascension Borgess hospital after strike possibility
Nurse #Nurse
KALAMAZOO, MI — The union representing nurses at Ascension Borgess Hospital in Kalamazoo reached a tentative deal with hospital administrators on Friday, Dec. 9.
The three-year agreement was reached after nurses earlier this week voted to give their bargaining team the ability to call a strike if necessary.
The previous nursing contract expired Nov. 11.
“By standing together, we sent a clear message to Ascension that a strong contract that protects patients by recruiting and retaining nurses is vital to our community,” Lori Batzloff, an Ascension Borgess nurse and president of the local Michigan Nurses Association bargaining unit, said in a written statement.
Related: Union representing hundreds of nurses in Kalamazoo threatens to strike
“Now it’s time for the membership to review the tentative agreement. I plan to vote in favor of the deal and encourage other nurses to do the same,” she said.
According to the nurses union, the tentative deal includes average raises of 20..5 percent for the contract’s first year. The new hourly wage scale is $33.44 to $48.72.
It also includes an additional emergency personal day for all registered nurses and raises pay for nurses designated as “on call.”
The workers covered under the tentative deal, more than 300 nurses, are expected to vote Dec. 14 on ratification.
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