Contract Ratification

 Nurses Ratify Contract with Lenox Hill and Manhattan Eye, Ear and Throat Hospitals

NYPNU Members Affirm High Quality Health Care for Patients and for Nurses

(New York, NY) - New York Professional Nurses Union members voted Friday to ratify a new contract agreement with Lenox Hill Hospital / Manhattan Eye, Ear and Throat Hospital.

 “By voting yes on the agreement, nurses showed their determination to ensure and deliver the best patient care,” said NYPNU President Maureen McCarthy.

 NYPNU members approved the contract by over 96% in a vote with one of the highest turnouts in the nurse union’s history.  Talks with hospital officials over updating the collective bargaining agreement took place throughout most of September, October, and early November. 

The agreement addresses the most-pressing concerns about nurse patient ratios, working conditions, overtime, nurses’ health insurance, and pension.  Those issues are also central to the ability of the hospital to keep its current professional nurses at the bedside and recruit new nurses, McCarthy noted. 

The three-year agreement provides:

• Wage increases up to 5.7% in 2011 and up to 4.1% in 2012
• No mandatory overtime
• No increases in health coverage fees
• No changes in pension plan
• Staffing level in the ER has been improved for better coverage of emergency patients

 Since 1984, the New York Professional Nurses Union has represented the nurses at Lenox Hill Hospital. In 2000, nurses at Manhattan Eye, Ear and Throat Hospital became members when the hospital was acquired by Lenox Hill. The union has also grown to include per diems RNs, RN Case Managers, Social Worker Case Managers, Nurse Practitioners, and Neonatal PAs.

 For Immediate Release:
November 13, 2009

Contact:
Kathrina Suarez 212-988-5565
Sarah Massey 202-445-1169