RNs ratify contract at SW Washington Med Ctr

VANCOUVER, Wash. — Registered nurses at Southwest Washington Medical Center, represented by the Washington State Nurses Association, overwhelmingly voted on July 8 to ratify a new contract. The three-year deal will expire on April 30, 2008. The agreement was reached after eight bargaining sessions over a two-month period.

“We are pleased that both sides were able to come together and achieve this landmark contract which will enhance the quality of patient care that nurses at SWMC provide to our community,” said Vicki Wornath, local unit co-chair. “We look forward to working with SWMC administration in the implementation of this contract and to our mutual commitment to making SWMC the best hospital in the region.”

Highlights of the contract include wage increases of 5 percent the first year and 3 percent in each of the second and third years, rest between shifts, recognizing the importance of nurses having at least eight hours off between shifts, and elimination of scheduled on-call duty in intensive care and critical care units, which had become another means of mandatory overtime.

The Washington State Nurses Association represents more than 13,000 registered nurses in the state

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