Cedarbrook Nurses Approve First Agreement with Lehigh County

180 Registered Nurses and Licensed Practical Nurses at Cedarbrook Nursing Home have won their first agreement with Lehigh County. The memorandum of understanding sets wages and benefits for the next three years and guarantees the nurses a real voice in decision-making at the nursing home.

Nurses at Cedarbrook tried organizing many times over the years, but finally succeeded last year when they joined SEIU Healthcare Pennsylvania. The nurses were particularly considered about safe staffing, professional compensation and having input the decisions that affect them and their residents. The support of County Executive Don Cunningham was critical to both the organizing victory and reaching this settlement.

The new memorandum of understanding guarantees:

• A voice for nurses in staffing and patient care decisions through Labor/ Management meetings and more integrated involvement in quality improvement committees.
  
  
• Continuing Education benefits so nurses get the education they need to ensure patients and residents are receiving the best care.
  
  
• In addition, nurses will receive guaranteed wage increases of 4% in 2009 and 2010 with the raise in 2011 to be negotiated at a later date – and improved incentives for working nights, weekends and holidays.

With this new agreement, Cedarbrook nurses will be among the highest paid nurses in the region, making Cedarbrook the employer of choice for area nurses and improving retention and recruitment of nursing staff that will result in higher quality of care for residents.

"In these difficult economic times, its reassuring to know that we have strength and security with our union. Working together with other health care workers throughout the state we know that we can improve health care for everyone and our economy," said Paul Rhode, a nurse at Cedarbrook.