Nurses Reach Tentative Deal with UC Medical Center
CINCINNATI – The Registered Nurses Association (RNA) at UC Medical Center, a local unit of the Ohio Nurses Association (ONA) and American Federation of Teachers (AFT), reached a tentative agreement with the Medical Center.
The agreement seeks to address important staffing and nurse retention and recruitment issues raised by the nurses in negotiations since April 26th. The agreement will be voted on by the nurses July 7th and 8th.
“We fought hard for UC Medical Center to recognize the importance of nurse recruitment and retention, and its relation to safe nurse staffing. Because of these efforts, the tentative three-year deal includes a commitment on the Medical Center’s part to write their staffing plans to nationally recognized nurse to patient ratios. This is a win for patient safety, the Cincinnati community and nurses,” stated Michelle Thoman, RNA President.
The contract includes wage increases with an average increase of 8.8% in the first year of the contract and some nurses receiving salary increases up to 25% over the course of 3 years. The agreement contractually requires the Medical Center to tie incentives to nurse-to-patient ratios rewarding nurses who work extra shifts to achieve those ratios.
The union’s current agreement has been extended until July 8th, 2021. If ratified, the new agreement would be retroactive to July 1, 2021.
RNA consists of 1700 registered nurses.