Three Rivers Beacon nurses ratify new contract

Agreement will help recruit, retain nurses at local hospital
 
THREE RIVERS – Nurses at Three Rivers Beacon Health voted overwhelmingly Tuesday to ratify a new contract after months of negotiations and a successful informational picket last month. The 3-year contract, which takes effect immediately, includes significant raises, improvements to nurses’ health insurance, and limits on nurses being forced to work extra hours. 

“We fought hard for a strong union contract because it will help recruit and retain the nurses needed to provide the best care possible for our community,” said Brandy Shoup, RN, president of the local union at Three Rivers, which is part of the Michigan Nurses Association (MNA). “We’re proud that together, nurses achieved important goals that we set for ourselves. We want to thank our community for the amazing support along the way. Three Rivers values its local nurses, and we’ve held Beacon accountable for showing that they do, too.”

The new contract features: 
•    Raises that average 12.6 percent over the life of the contract, putting Three Rivers RNs near the top of the regional market, plus a top-of-scale bonus
•    Improvements that make nurses’ health insurance more accessible and affordable
•    Increased retirement contribution
•    Increased pay for mandated hours and limits on management’s ability to force nurses to work extra hours

This contract is the first that Beacon negotiated in the state since it acquired four southwest Michigan Ascension facilities – including two hospitals that have Michigan Nurses Association nurse unions (the former Borgess in Kalamazoo and former Borgess Allegan).
 
The Michigan Nurses Association is the largest union and professional association representing registered nurses and healthcare professionals in Michigan. MNA is an affiliate of National Nurses United and the AFL-CIO.
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Contact: Lyla Luoto,  lyla.luoto@minurses.org, 517-648-0556 (cell)