Vermont Business Magazine The UVM Medical Center reached a tentative agreement late Friday on a new three-year contract for the 340 technical employees represented by the Vermont Federation of Nurses and Health Professionals. This is the same union that represented nurses in bitter negotiations last year, but which also resulted in a new contract last September.
The UVM Medical Center and the union agreed to a contract that includes wage increases and market adjustments of 10% to 25% over the next three years. The increases are based on comprehensive market analysis for each position, as well as critical factors such as recruitment and retention data.
The agreement was reached after seven bargaining sessions, and with the participation of a federal mediator from the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service. The union will be taking this offer to their membership for consideration, and a ratification vote is expected by Friday, March 8.
“We believe this agreement, which provides meaningful wage increases, recognizes the varied and vital work and dedication of the hospital’s technical employees,” said Chris Oliver, UVM Medical Center’s Vice President of Clinical Services. “We all share a commitment to providing high quality, affordable health care for the communities we serve, and to being responsible stewards of limited health care dollars. This agreement helps to make that possible.”
The union, however, was not as enthusiastic about the outcome. Meredith Knowles, on behalf of the union, said in a press release issued late Friday night that the techs began negotiations in December and were met with resistance early on in the months of meeting with the hospital administration.
Union leadership said that they will continue to fight for patient safety issues, including appropriate rest periods between shifts and to extend important benefits equitably to all tech employees.
The statement said that while VFNHP was able to secure wages above $15 for all bargaining unit members, "We were disappointed to learn that the hospital commitment to raising the minimum wage for all hospital employees was delayed a year beyond the commitment Eileen Whalen made this summer. The union advocated for increases to address both recruitment and retention staffing issues and to bring all employees to a livable wage."
UVMMC President Eileen Whalen plans to retire this June.
The union stated that there is still much work to do to bring compensation to a competitive and livable level. UVMMC plans to raise the minimum to $15 in 2020.
"We are proud of what we have accomplished, but our work is far from over. We are so proud of the power and unity we have built with our tech and nurse colleague and feel that solidarity more than ever before. This isn’t a perfect contract, but it’s a strong step in the right direction," said Nicole DiVita, an ophthalmic technician at UVMMC.
Details of the agreement were scheduled to be shared with union members Saturday and a ratification vote will be held next week.
The University of Vermont Medical Center is a 447-bed tertiary care regional referral center providing advanced care to approximately 1 million residents in Vermont and northern New York. Together with our partners at the Larner College of Medicine at the University of Vermont and the College of Nursing and Health Sciences, we are Vermont’s academic medical center. The University of Vermont Medical Center also serves as a community hospital for approximately 150,000 residents in Chittenden and Grand Isle counties.
The University of Vermont Medical Center is a member of The University of Vermont Health Network, an integrated system established to deliver high quality academic medicine to every community we serve.
Source: (Burlington, VT) The UVM Medical Center. Vermont Federation of Nurses and Health Professionals. 3.1.2019 www.UVMHealth.org/MedCenter