Federation of Nurses/UFT members who are registered professional nurses employed by VNS Health overwhelmingly ratified a contract on Jan. 27 that provides a 12% compounded pay increase over two years, additional money for experience and certification differentials and improvements to scheduling and the retirement health package.

The contract, which went into effect on Feb. 1 and runs through January 2028, features a 6% pay increase effective April 1, 2026, and a 5.75% increase effective April 1, 2027. The base salary for new hires, which is now $112,209, will increase to $125,781.

The experience differential for years of service on the job will increase to $850 for each year. The contract adds experience differentials for 19 or more years as an RN and for 23 or more years of experience specifically at VNS Health.

In the current environment, when nurses in the region are struggling to achieve fair pay, health benefits and working conditions, “it is miraculous that we have achieved an on-time contract that meets our goals,” said UFT Vice President Anne Goldman, the head of the Federation of Nurses/UFT.

Kaiser Mojica, the chapter vice chair and a member of the negotiating committee, said that he was proud to have negotiated a contract that addressed so many concerns of members. “It’s a credit to the strength and reputation of the union,” said Mojica.

Certification differentials will increase to $1,500. RNs can now receive a payment for earning up to four certifications, with an enhanced differential of $1,600 per year for RNs with WOCN (wound, ostomy and continence nursing) certification. The total available certification differential amount will rise from $5,600 to $6,250 annually.

Per-diem start-of-care rates (the initial appointment for a new patient) will increase by 12% by April 1, 2026.

Education differentials will increase across all education levels: for a bachelor’s degree, to $1,975; for a master’s degree, to $2,225; and for a doctorate, to $2,375. Nurse practitioners will now be reimbursed for their initial DEA license fee as well as the annual renewal fees.

The bargaining process began in October with an online survey sent to VNS RNs to determine members’ contract priorities. The 20-person negotiating committee based its demands on the results of that survey.

The negotiating committee stood firm against any givebacks. Health insurance remains premium-free. The retiree health benefit for retirees who have worked for 25 years and are now ages 62–65 will increase to $6,000 per year.

The new contract also allows nurses to have more visibility into and control over their scheduling. The subject-to-call procedures are now established in the contract for the first time. Nurses must be scheduled three months in advance, there will be a seven-day limit on consecutive work days, activation will occur only in emergency situations, and VNS will first solicit volunteers before activating subject-to-call nurses.

Procedures around the use of artificial intelligence were of particular concern to VNS nurses, and the new contract specifies that RNs will be notified before the implementation of new technology to be used in direct patient care. VNS also formally acknowledged that AI will not replace clinical decision-making.

VNS nurses at the bargaining table were “coordinated, focused and empowered. We did what we came to do,” Goldman said.

VNS Chapter Leader Raquel Webb-Geddes said the negotiating team worked tirelessly to address member concerns that were outlined in the survey: “I’m so proud to have shepherded an amazing committee that understands what nurses value in this climate and at this time.”

A separate contract covering VNS Health licensed practical nurses will expire in January 2027.