Staff Writer
PRESQUE ISLE, Maine – Months of negotiations between officials of The Aroostook Medical Center and its nursing staff, following the nurses’ vote ratifying a new one-year contract with the administration, including a 10 to 12 percent rate increase and significant patient safety language. Nurses, represented by the Maine State Nurses Association/CNA/NNOC, had been struggling with the medical center at the bargaining table over the issue of patient safety and recruitment and retention of RNs. “Nurses at TAMC work hard for patients in the Presque Isle area and we are pleased with the direction of the settlement. We hope it reflects TAMC’s commitment to provide quality healthcare to this community in that the improved wages, benefits and patient safety language will help toward the goal of recruitment and retention of RNs,” said Mark Morrow, TAMC RN and member of the negotiating team.
TAMC nurses had been working without a contract since July. Working with a mediator, meetings were held recently, with both sides airing their concerns. TAMC officials, according to Morrow, had indicated the economy was a factor.
“They said there was no more money” to update the wage scale, said Morrow. “What they offered for a three-year contract wouldn’t fly with members, but it was in the best interest of all involved to avoid a strike.”
Morrow said nurses were seeking to bring their pay scale up to what Eastern Maine Medical Center offered their RNs in 1998, in an effort to retain staff at the Presque Isle facility. Highlights of the new settlement include a 10 to 12 percent rate increase, improved call pay, a Professional Practice Committee where nurses can have real input on practice issues, staffing language, a voice regarding new technology, increase earned time accrual and protections for charge nurses.
TAMC officials expressed their approval of the negotiating efforts of all involved.
“The Aroostook Medical Center and the union representing its registered nurses participated in another negotiating session with a federal mediator on July 28. In an effort to finalize a new contract, discussions continued toward a resolution that met the needs and would respond to the concerns of both parties,” said Joy Barresi Saucier, vice president of Public Relations, development and strategic planning at TAMC.
Morrow said while the pay increase is appreciated, the real issue for the nurses has always been patient safety.
“TAMC’s been understaffed in the nursing department. We’ve had to shut down beds because we didn’t have the nurses to care for the patients. Better pay will help attract nurses – help prevent their leaving for better-paying jobs elsewhere,” said Morrow.
Morrow said the new contract provides a bit of breathing room and preparation time for renewal talks next year.
“We’re going to start negotiating early for next year, probably six months in advance, work on additional issues. We understand TAMC doesn’t want to spend more than it has to. We don’t know where we’ll (nurses) will be in two years,” said Morrow. “This just buys everyone time.”
“This was definitely a good outcome for both sides. Everyone could live with what was voted,” said Morrow. “I’m feeling very good about it.”
