(Altoona, PA) – Altoona Regional and the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Healthcare Pennsylvania are pleased to announce that registered nurses have ratified their first contract with the health system.
The agreement provides:
- A 16 percent wage increase over a 33-month contract.
- A “modified union shop” meaning there is a “maintenance of membership” provision for current employees and a “union shop” provision for new employees.
- An increase in call pay, shift differential, vacation and longevity pay.
- No changes for existing RNs in their retirement plan (a defined benefit plan). RNs hired after June 30, 2008, will be enrolled in a new defined contribution plan with a health system match.
- Establishment of a committee where RNs and management can discuss staffing and patient care issues.
- An attempt to limit mandatory overtime, where feasible, by assigning it on a rotating basis limited to four-hour increments. Any RN who volunteers to work four or more hours of overtime will not be required, where possible, to work overtime in the next seven days.
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