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Spring 2005

And Staten Island University Hospital: nurses make it
three-in-a row

The third big win for the Federation of Nurses/UFT was the new on-time contract providing significant raises and improved working conditions for its 250 registered nurses at the Staten Island University Hospital-South Site.

Eileen Slavin, Staten Island University Hospital chapter secretary, was a member of her facility's bargaining team.

As their colleagues did at Visiting Nurse Service of New York and Lutheran Medical Center, they overwhelmingly ratified a pact just as the old contract expired. The March 31 action avoided a strike, for which the union had set an April 1 deadline. Unlike the other facilities, SIUH signed a three-year contract with Federation members.

“We’re pleased that we have a negotiating team that was able to deliver this contract for our members by working efficiently and effectively at the bargaining table,” Weingarten said.

“This contract provides competitive salaries and recognizes the value of nursing experience for all of our registered nurses by increasing the experience differential. It also provides bonuses for nurses who achieve their certification as well as those who get their bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees.”

Goldman said, “We are absolutely delighted to have an on-time contract that provides good economic gains and addresses the issue of improved working conditions for our nurses.”

The new contract, which went into effect April 1, provides raises of 11 percent over three years. It also increases the experience differential to $1,000 for every year of nursing experience up to 25 years.

Another major economic gain in the contract is an increase in the employer’s contribution to the nurses’ retirement savings plan from 6 percent to 7 percent on both base salary and experience differentials.

The contract also improves the nurse-to-patient ratios by increasing the number of registered nurses in every area of the hospital.

As she did at the close of previous bargaining, UFT President Weingarten congratulated those responsible for their work in crafting the agreement. These included Coordinator of Negotiations Lucille Swaim, Special Representative Anne Goldman, SIUH Chapter Leader Nancy Bentsen and the union’s negotiating committee.