Following a vote held yesterday, registered nurses at Sisters of Charity Hospital, St. Joseph Campus, represented by Communications Workers of America (CWA) Local 1168, have ratified a new multi-year contract. The nurses are the third of four bargaining units at Catholic Health represented by CWA to ratify a new contract.
“Despite an unusually long negotiation process, our nurses never wavered in their commitment to continue providing the highest quality patient care, and for that we are truly grateful,” said Peter Bergmann, President & CEO of Sisters of Charity Hospital. “Over the next four years, we believe this contract will enable us to further strengthen care and service at St. Joseph Campus.”
“With this agreement, we hope that we can begin to build a true labor-management partnership at St. Joseph Campus,” said Michael Dunphy, Vice President of CWA 1168 “Our bargaining committee and all the nurses worked hard to get here and we’re committed to making sure our patients get the best care possible.”
The ratification is the second in three consecutive contract votes between Catholic Health and the CWA being held this month. Last week, registered nurses and service, technical and clerical associates at Mercy Hospital ratified two new four-year contracts. The final contract vote among technical associates at Kenmore Mercy Hospital is scheduled to take place on September 20.
The St. Joseph Campus contract, which covers more than 200 nurses at the Catholic Health hospital, calls for improvements in wages and staffing, while maintaining low cost health benefits.
