Federation of Nurses/UFT members who are licensed practical nurses with VNS Health overwhelmingly ratified a contract on Jan. 27 that provides a 7.5% increase in base pay over two years while establishing the employer’s contractual obligation to consider factors like parking availability, travel time and level of patient need when scheduling daily caseloads.

“Our bargaining team was committed to making sure that nurses have a say in patient care,” said UFT Vice President Anne Goldman, who leads the Federation of Nurses/UFT. “Health care is always pushing to have an assembly line, so whenever you can slow it down to take the patient’s individual needs into account, it’s a huge accomplishment.”

VNS licensed practical nurses provide adult care, pediatric care, managed long-term care and hospice care from patients’ homes.

The contract, which went into effect on Feb. 1 and runs through January 2027, features a 4% pay hike on July 1, followed by a 3.5% increase on July 1, 2026. Those increases will raise the base salary by $5,200 over the life of the contract.

The contract also includes new language about scheduling and coordination of care. When assigning the day’s caseload, VNS will need to consider the severity of the patient’s needs and the appropriate protective gear, availability of parking and length of travel time between patients.

The nurses will now be able to provide better patient care, said Kelley Sheffey, the UFT chapter leader. “The employer has a better idea of what our day is like in terms of safety, infection control and distance between patients.”

The new contract also increases tuition reimbursement to a maximum of $13,000, and there is no longer a limit on the number of credits eligible for reimbursement.

The experience differential on each of the three levels increased by $100 per year.

The compensation for preceptors — experienced nurses who train and mentor new colleagues — also increased.