CMCH, nurses agree to new contract

The Michigan Nurses Association and Central Michigan Community Hospital reached a new labor agreement after nine months of negotiations.

“We didn’t get everything we wanted, but nobody ever does,” said Lisa Harrison, MNA labor relations representative. “I am very happy we were able to reach an agreement.”

The main sticking points of the deal were a wage freeze on the nurses contract and the nurses’ ability to give input for the hiring of new nurses. The wage freeze is still intact and no increases will be given for the length of the deal. The MNA was concerned a wage freeze could impact their ability to rehire its nurses and hire new nurses.

“The nurses will have input regarding the postings and vacancies,” Harrison said. “A wage freeze is a big compromise.”

The 111 registered nurses at CMCH had been working without a formal contract since February.

Negotiations broke down in September, with the MNA holding an informational picket outside CMCH.

The MNA had voted to authorize a strike in June, although the required notice was never given to the hospital.

The two sides came to an agreement Monday when both parties ratified the new deal, although the official contract still needs to be signed.

The new contract expires June 30, 2010, according to a press release from CMCH spokeswoman Darcie Van Dop.

The length of the contract is short, Harrison said, but the MNA is happy to have settled the labor dispute.

“All that matters fundamentally is that the parties reached an agreement,” she said.