The nurses of the Porter Federation of Nurses and Health Professionals (PFNHP) voted to ratify their first contract with an overwhelming majority on Monday. The group had reached a tentative agreement with the Porter Medical Center (PMC) in Middlebury last week. This contract is their first, after the nurses voted to form their union a year ago. The contract took effect upon ratification (December 23, 2014) and will continue through September 30, 2017.
Reflecting on the vote to ratify the contract, AFT Vermont President Ben Johnson said, "We welcome Porter nurses into AFT Vermont and we congratulate them on their historic win."
Janet Mosurick, RN, celebrated the vote, saying, "Two years of planning dreaming and hard work ended up to be a great accomplishment that led to the reality a first nursing contract for the hospital whereI am proud to work."
"The delivery of healthcare is better for a community when workers and management can bargain over issues affecting patients, and that's what happened here. The issues addressed in this first contract were the catalyst for the RNs to form a union so they would have an avenue to discuss ways to improve patient and working conditions.
Ensuring patient safety is a top priority for all nurses, including those at Porter Medical Center. Forced overtime and chaotic schedules put patients and nurses at risk. The agreement ratifiedon Mondaywill minimize that risk, ensuring that nurses work under safe and sane working conditions and patients get the high-quality care they deserve," said AFT President Randi Weingarten, upon hearing of the contract approval.
The nurses of PFNHP prioritized safe patient care in their bargaining platform. They will now have six staffing committees to address staffing recommendations and safe staffing issues. There are serious limits in the use of mandatory overtime. The nurses won guarantees that they will be consulted and fully trained on all new equipment before it is put into use.
The nurses also bargained a wage scale that will, over time, correct the vast inequities in wages at Porter Medical Center.Another key win is guaranteed paid certifications for continuing education.PFNHP is confident these wins will improve patient care at PMC as well as improve recruitment and retention.
The Porter Federation of Nurses and Health Professionals is a professional union representing the Registered Nurses at Porter Medical Center. PFNHP is committed to advancing quality patient care & our nursing practice.
Source: American Federation of Teachers 12.23.2014