MILFORD – Over 500 registered nurses at Milford Regional Medical Center (MRMC) voted to ratify their first collective bargaining agreement on Wednesday.
The Massachusetts Nurses Association (MNA) represents the nurses. The nurses formed its union and joined the MNA in February 2021.
According to the MNA, some of the highlights of the contract include:
- A wage step scale that guarantees annual raises;
- An 8.5% across-the-board raises for every nurse over the next two years;
- A guarantee that charge nurses will be without a patient assignment or have a reduced patient assignment on in-patient units;
- Nurse educators are an additional resource for nurses during the 3 p.m. to 7 a.m. period;
- Overtime will take effect after one hour past their shirt, or more than 40 hours per week;
- For health insurance coverage, 32 hours per week will be considered full-time.
“Our MNA contract will immediately benefit nurses and patients and will make a positive impact in our community for years to come,” said Sara Burton, MP1 nurse at MRMC and Co-Chair of the MNA Bargaining Committee.
Judy Kelly, Vice President of Patient Care Services and Chief Nursing Officer at Milford Regional Medical Center said, “We are pleased with the Nov. 16 ratification of the first contract between Milford Regional Medical Center and the Massachusetts Nurses Association.. The agreement reflects Milford Regional’s overall priorities that include retaining and recruiting top talent; providing market competitive wages and benefits; reinforcing our focus on quality care; and strengthening our attraction as a workplace of choice.”
