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BMH, Nurses Union Reach Early Settlement on Contract

Feb. 24, 2005 - (BUTLER, Pa.) – Butler Memorial Hospital and the Pennsylvania Association of Staff Nurses and Allied Professionals (PASNAP) have reached an agreement on a three-year contract.

The agreement is an early one, since the nurses contract was not due to expire until April 15, 2005.

"We’re extremely pleased with our relationship with our nurses’ union and feel that the effort both of us have put forward forges a new approach to our ongoing relationship," said Joseph A. Stewart, president and CEO of BMH. "Our partnership is one that I think we are both pleased has continued to develop for the good of our hospital and our patients. This agreement demonstrates that we and our nurses are committed to our common future."

Key changes to the nurses’ agreement include:
  • A new $3,000 per year contribution to retiring nurses in order to bridge health insurance costs for nurses retiring from the hospital with at least 20 years of service and 59 ½ years of age. The $250 per month contribution continues until age 65.
  • Wage increases of 4.5%, 4% and 4% in each year of a three-year agreement;
  • A commitment by the Hospital and the nurses to jointly establish staffing guidelines for each unit of the hospital so that nurses can continue to give the best care in Southwestern Pennsylvania;
  • An agreement by the nurses to participate in the hospital’s Home Host (Butler Select Blue Preferred) health insurance plan.
"We made the commitment we did to items in this contract and to all of our employees because we don’t want to just be one of the Best Places to Work in PA, we want to be one of the best places to work in the nation," Stewart said.

"We are very pleased that we were able to reach an early agreement; an agreement that reflects a solid commitment to the value of nurses to the hospital and the community," said Bill Cruice, Executive Director of PASNAP. "The Butler Memorial Hospital nurses are among the best in the region and this new agreement recognizes their important contribution."

The new contract was ratified by the PASNAP membership last night with 80% of those voting in favor. When approved by the BMH Board, the agreement will last through April 16, 2008.

PASNAP represents 348 nurses at Butler Memorial Hospital.

More Information

For more information, contact John Righetti at 724-284-4864 or email Public Relations.

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