Wilkes-Barre General Hospital and Nurses Union Reach Early Contract Settlement

New Contract Makes WB General Hospital RNs Highest Paid in Northeastern Pennsylvania and Provides Incentives for Mercy Nurses to Join Staff

In their first contract negotiation since their 23-day strike in 2003, Wilkes-Barre General Hospital and the Wyoming Valley Nurses Association/PASNAP have reached a contract settlement more than three months before the expiration of the current contract. Union members voted Tuesday to approve the new contract by a vote of 252 to 13, or 95% approval.

The new 5-year contract makes the Wilkes-Barre Hospital RNs the highest paid nurses in Northeastern Pennsylvania, a full 9% on average higher than Geisinger Wyoming Valley and Mercy Hospital of Wilkes-Barre. With seniority step increases, the average nurse will see wage increases of about 26% over the course of the agreement.

The first year wage increase of 8.5% includes the conversion of an ongoing 5% bonus from the Medicare Wage Re-classification into the wage scale, plus an additional 3.5% wage increase. Such increase is implemented immediately, 3 months earlier than normal. Yearly wage increases in years 2 through 5 are 3%, 3.5%, 3.5%, and 3.5% in January of each year beginning in 2007. The new contract also includes a ratification bonus linked to years of service, ranging from $500 to $1,750.

The nurses are pleased with the new contract. We are gratified that the Hospital recognizes the life saving nursing care we deliver every day. We are working very hard to make Wilkes-Barre General Hospital the employer of choice for nurses in the Wyoming Valley ," said Fran Prusinski, a critical care nurse and President of the Local Nurses Union.

Another key element of the new contract is a provision designed to recruit nurses from Mercy Hospital of Wilkes-Barre to join the nursing staff at Wilkes-Barre General Hospital . Mercy nurses who become employed by WVHCS by December 31, 2006 can apply their accrued Mercy Hospital seniority to (1) establish their rate of pay, (2) establish their vacation accrual, and (3) establish their vesting status in the Wilkes-Barre General Hospital pension.

We want to warmly welcome our union sister and brother nurses from Mercy Hospital who want to come work for our hospital," said Local President Fran Prushinski. "The current upheaval in their work lives caused by the Geisinger take over should not force them to start from scratch at this point in their careers regarding salary, pension and vacation."