Registered Nurses at Beverly and Addison Gilbert Hospitals Approve New Contract for Enhanced Patient Care

In a significant move for patient care and nursing standards, registered nurses affiliated with the Massachusetts Nurses Association (MNA) at Northeast Hospital Corporation's Beverly and Addison Gilbert Hospitals have overwhelmingly ratified a new three-year contract. This decision was made to bolster their ability to attract and keep talented nursing staff, ultimately enhancing patient care within their facilities.

The new agreement, which will take effect from April 1, 2025, and run until March 31, 2027, offers substantial wage increases to the nursing staff. Nurses will see a salary boost of between 24% and 30%, depending on their experience and years of service. The contract lays out an across-the-board salary increase of 18.5%, distributed over three years as follows: 7% in 2025, 6% in 2026, and 5% in 2027. In addition to these increases, nurses are also entitled to a 4% annual wage increase due to the stepped wage scale that recognizes years of service.

The primary reason for this new contract revolves around the pressing need for Northeast Hospital Corporation to retain qualified nurses in a competitive job market. Over the years, the compensation for nurses in the region had lagged, which led to an exodus of skilled professionals to hospitals that could offer better pay and working conditions. Larn Beard, RN, and co-chair of the MNA local bargaining unit at NEHC expressed satisfaction with the deal stating, "Our MNA nurses at Northeast are pleased to have ratified our new contract which continues to focus our efforts on retaining and recruiting experienced registered nurses in order to provide safe quality patient care for the community that we love."

Negotiations for this contract reached a tentative agreement on March 25, just after a decisive informational picket was held by hundreds of nurses outside Beverly Hospital, signalling their insistence on improvement in working conditions and compensation.

Scheduled wage adjustments aim to support the recruitment of new nurses as well. The contract includes specific increases for newly recruited nurses, as well as a new 4% increase for those at the highest end of the pay scale, further enhancing its attractiveness to existing and prospective nursing staff.

Northeast Hospital Corporation operates under the umbrella of the Beth Israel Lahey Health System and includes the facilities at Beverly Hospital, Addison Gilbert Hospital in Gloucester, and Lahey Outpatient Center located in Danvers. This new contract is vital, not only for the nurses but also for the healthcare system that depends on a robust nursing staff to function effectively.

Founded in 1903, the Massachusetts Nurses Association represents the largest union for registered nurses within Massachusetts, totaling around 25,000 members. The organization is dedicated to advancing the nursing profession through the establishment of high nursing practice standards, advocating for economic welfare, and promoting a positive view of nursing. They play an essential role in lobbying legislative bodies regarding healthcare issues that directly affect nurses and the broader public.

In light of this contract, it remains to be seen how it will impact patient care and staffing levels in the Northeast area, but there is optimism among nurses that these changes will foster a better working environment and improve the quality of patient care provided at these institutions. The progressive steps taken in this negotiation highlight the vital role of collective bargaining in ensuring nurses are fairly compensated while maintaining high standards of care for the community.

For more updates and insights, you can visit the Massachusetts Nurses Association's social media pages or their official website.

Topics Health)

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