Nurses at Geisinger Community Medical Center have accepted a new contract that includes wage increases and benefits changes, labor and hospital officials announced Friday.
The accord extends the collective bargaining agreement for the hospital's 405 registered nurses, certified registered nurse anesthetists and nurse practitioners through January 2017. The nurses' union passed the contract nearly unanimously on Thursday night.
The agreement calls for wage increases of between 11 and 16 percent during the 3½-year period, a gradual transition to Geisinger Health System benefit programs and cost sharing, a premium for bedside nursing, improvements in pay for night and evening shifts and a wellness initiative that will allow participating nurses to cut their health insurance contributions, according to the hospital and union.
Hospital leaders and the members of the Pennsylvania Association of Staff Nurses and Allied Employees reached the agreement well in advance of the January 2014 expiration of the current contract. Both sides said they were pleased with the negotiations and the outcome.
"We certainly have our differences, but I must say that Geisinger approached these negotiations with professionalism and respect," said PASNAP Executive Director Bill Cruice, who was the lead negotiator on behalf of the nurses.
The medical center's chief nursing officer, Maureen Fitzsimmons, said the agreement is "fair to everyone."
"We were able to establish rates to effectively attract and retain qualified registered nurses," she said. "This is extremely important as Geisinger continues to invest and grow programs in the Lackawanna County area."
Hospital CEO Robert Steigmeyer said the agreement is an example of the health system "investing in our workforce."
Contact the writer: llegere@timesshamrock.com