by Timothy McQuiston Vermont Business Magazine According to The University of Vermont Medical Center and the Vermont Federation of Nurses &Health Professionals, the union representing nurses, a third bargaining session has been scheduled for Friday evening. Two sessions recently concluded between the union and management, including one Thursday night, in an effort to hammer out a new contract. The union represents1,800 nurses.
The union said in a statement Friday morning that over 200 people lined Colchester Avenue Thursday in a "honk & wave" rally for a good nurses' contract at UVM Medical Center. Much of the union argument is focused on staffing. The VFNHP has already authorized a strike if a deal can't be reached by the time the contract expires July 9. The hospital and union went through the same process three years ago.
UVMMC recently presented its side of the equation:
Nurse Contract Negotiations
June 29, 2018
WAGES:
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The union is asking for a 28.5% total wage increase over three years.
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The UVM Medical Center has proposed:
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A 7% wage increase over 3 years, with additional increases up to 11% for some positions.
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Raising the salaries of ambulatory nurses to the same level of inpatient nurses over 3 years, which would increase their pay up to 15%.
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Increasing pay for APRNs (Nurse Practitioners) from 10 – 19%
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The average base pay for a full time nurse is about $72,000, not including overtime or other opportunities to increase income. Nurses also receive benefits that equal more than 30% of base pay.
STAFFING:
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Since October 2016, the UVM Medical Center has hired more than 300 RNs and more than 400 support staff, a total of 754 full-time employees. More than 120 of these positions are new.
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Our nurse turnover rates and vacancy rate are in line with similarly sized organizations nationally.
NEGOTIATIONS
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There was a positive session last night, but no final agreements were reached. An additional bargaining session with a federal mediator will be held tonight (Friday).
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The contract does not expire until July 9th, after which talks can continue and nurses can continue to work.
POSSIBLE STRIKE
· In the event of a work stoppage, we will be prepared to continue providing care to our patients with as little disruption as possible.
Sources: UVMMC. VFNHP
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