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Nurses, techs, and social workers ratify contract with Warren General

Warren General Hospital nurses, techs, and social workers ratified a two-year contract on October 3 by an overwhelming margin.

The members of the Pennsylvania Association of Staff Nurses & Allied Employees (PASNAP) — representing 130 workers at Warren General — have been engaged in contract negotiations since July. The main issues at the table, according to the union, were securing safe staffing for patients, workplace safety, and a compensation package that enables recruitment and retention.

“We want Warren General Hospital to succeed and serve our community,” said Rose Colucci, RN for 37 years. “Contract negotiations are always a challenge, but we feel this agreement will move our membership, the hospital, and our patients forward.”

According to the union, the contract included increases to the base wage rate with additional increases for longevity. The agreement featured a commitment by both parties to establish safe staffing guidelines in addition to improved security and controlling insurance costs.

At the beginning of bargaining, the hospital indicated that it was facing some significant financial challenges, according to the union. The union agreed to reduce the employer’s retirement obligations given these challenges.

“We’re pleased our efforts negotiating with (PASNAP) yielded a new two-year contract,” said Warren General Hospital CEO Rick Allen. ” We have been working very hard to ensure hospital salaries and benefits are reasonable, competitive, and sustainable. Maintaining a full range of medical services, including maternity, behavioral health, and critical care, is very difficult in a small community hospital. We must diligently manage our costs while increasing volume. Delivering safe high-quality and service-oriented care is paramount to our mission and vision. We are proud to be a two-time Top 100 hospital… Our patients receive outstanding care in a safe and secure environment. We will continue to collaborate with all staff and physicians to deliver the best care possible for the residents of Warren.”

PASNAP represents more than 8,400 RNs and health professionals across Pennsylvania.

“The registered nurses, techs and social workers hope to work with the hospital to improve operations and ensure great patient outcomes as a service to the community,” according to Richard Goff, a PASNAP staff representative.

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