ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) — Rochester General Hospital and the Rochester Union of Nurses & Allied Professionals have reached a tentative agreement after 25 bargaining sessions over the past year, according to a joint statement.
On Tuesday, RGH began negotiations with RUNAP, and called the conversations “productive.” Those conversations continued onto Wednesday. The tentative agreement was ultimately reached late Wednesday evening.
The 42-month contract will apply to the more than 900 RUNAP-represented nurses at RGH.
Included in the new proposal to RGH were wage increases, which nurses have been calling for. Other concerns such as staffing concepts in the contract, and monetary penalties when staffing levels are not in compliance, were also addressed.
The statement also revealed RUNAP leadership will now share the full TA with the nurses they represent, as well as encourage ratification of the agreement through a vote in weeks ahead.
READ THE FULL JOINT STATEMENT FROM ROCHESTER GENERAL HOSPITAL AND THE ROCHESTER UNION OF NURSES & ALLIED PROFESSIONALS:
Rochester General Hospital (RGH) and the Rochester Union of Nurses & Allied Professionals (RUNAP) are pleased to announce they have reached a tentative agreement (TA) for a 42-month contract for the more than 900 RUNAP-represented nurses at RGH. The tentative agreement was reached after 25 bargaining sessions over the past twelve months.
“We want to thank both the RGH and RUNAP bargaining teams and our RGH employees for the exceptional care and dedication they have given our patients and the Rochester community throughout this process,” said Tammy Snyder, President and Chief Operating Officer at Rochester General Hospital. “Two key issues for both sides were wages and staffing, and I’m pleased we were able to find common ground with the union on these and many other important issues.”
“We are proud of our RGH nurses who have stood united over the last fifteen months in their commitment to achieve advancements for patient care at our hospital. Tonight, we have reached a tentative agreement that addresses many of the concerns of our nurses. We are looking forward to working together with hospital management to provide the quality care that our community deserves,” said RUNAP President, Carmen Camelio, RN.
RGH’s Chief Nursing Officer Shari McDonald said, “this agreement represents an important step forward for our nurses and the communities we serve. Our nurses are exceptional, and I am excited to build upon our strong foundation of clinical nursing excellence.”
RUNAP leadership will now share the full TA with the nurses they represent and will encourage ratification of the agreement through a vote in the weeks ahead.
Additional information related to the tentative agreement can be found at either www.rghnursesmatter.org or www.runap.org
