Essentia Health-Sandstone nurses have a new contract – their first.
Members approved a new four-year contract earlier this month, following two years of organizing and negotiating.
Sandstone nurses organized right after Essentia bought the hospital in 2012.
“We are very excited to have a contract with language that ensures safe staffing, addresses on-call shifts, and gives nurses a stronger voice in our workplace,” said bargaining unit MNA Co-Chair Erin Olson, RN. “The feedback from fellow nurses has been very positive.”
The four-year contract includes:
- Wage increases of 11 percent over the four years;
- Orientation and training language modeled on metro nurses’ contracts;
- On-call pay raise from $4 per hour to the minimum wage;
- Reimbursement raise from $400 to $700 for continuing education;
- 401(k) contributions from 3 percent to 7 percent.
“We are most happy to have a voice and solidarity in our dealings with management from now on,” said Olson.