MASSENA - After announcing at its July board meeting that they had agreed on a proposal with the bargaining unit for its registered nurses, Massena Memorial Hospital (MMH) CEO Charles F. Fahd II announced Tuesday evening that the nurses have ratified the proposal giving them a 5 percent pay hike over the course of the three-year contract.

According to a release put out by the hospital following the meeting, the New York State Registered Nurses Association (NYSNA) voted to ratify the agreement on Friday.

Speaking through that release, several hospital officials offered comments on the matter.

“After several negotiating sessions, we are pleased to have reached an agreement,” said. Senior Director of Human Resources Jonnie Dorothy. “We are satisfied with the end result and look forward to working together to further enhance the care we give to our patients.

Mr. Fahd echoed those sentiments.

“We acknowledge the value of these health care professionals at a time when there is a continuous shortage of registered nurses,” he said.

Mr. Fahd said the final contract was thanks to the hard work of many.

“We are very pleased with the final outcome of the negotiation sessions with out RN union team, management and the hospital personnel committee. All worded hard to arrive at a fair and equitable agreement.

Senior Director of Public Relations & Planning Tina Corcoran said the contract affects 106 registered nurses working at the hospital, noting that over the life of the deal the nurses will see a five percent increase in wages and benefits.

“The registered nurses will receive a 1 percent increase the first year, 2 percent the second year and 5 percent the third year,” she said. “Additionally each full time registered nurse will receive a $600 ratification incentive.”

Part-time nurses will also receive an incentive, however, that will be prorated based on the number of hours they work.

MMH NYSNA President Joe Ward said the vote to accept the deal was approved by a wide margin.

“On Aug. 16 and 17 the NYSNA membership voted to ratify the contract overwhelmingly,” he said. “We are pleased with the terms and satisfied with the outcome.”

Chief Nurse Executive Sue Beaulieu was also happy with the deal.

“I am very pleased we were able to reach an agreement with the RNs, which will ensure that MMH maintains an excellent nursing staff. MMH has high quality dedicated nursing staff throughout the units,” she said. “Our nurses are caring and compassionate, and I truly believe Massena Memorial Hospital has the best nursing staff in the north country.

Other benefits included in the contract include on-call pay, health insurance changes, a per diem differential and an education differential.

Ms. Corcoran said the total increase in costs to the hospital over the life of the deal is just over $750,000.

Representing the nurses at the bargaining table were registered nurses Mr. Ward, Cathy Thomas, Val Skomsky, Bobbi Jo Lauber and Krista Cecot, as well as NYSNA Labor Representative Annie Rutsky.

Representatives of the hospital included Mr. Fahd, Mrs. Beaulieu, Ms. Dorothy, Chief Financial Officer Sean Curtain, Senior Director of Ancillary Services Mark Brouillette, Ms. Corcoran, Senior Director of Practice Management Zach Chapman and Labor Attorney Laurie Johnston.

Thousands of readers like you have made Northern New York Newspapers the number one ranked website* for local news and sports coverage in the north country.

You can continue on to this article in a few seconds, or you can visit one of our websites:

• Watertown Daily Times
• The Ogdensburg Journal
• Daily Courier-Observer