Eagleville Hospital nurses, techs reach two-year labor deal

Registered nurses and mental health technicians have reached a two-year labor agreement with Eagleville Hospital.

The 90 RNs and 80 mental health techs have been bargaining with Eagleville Hospital for 10 months.

The contract is the first reached by the nurses and technicians since joining the Pennsylvania Association of Staff Nurses and Allied Professionals [PASNAP].

The pact with the 30-bed behavioral health care hospital, which specializes in treating patients with drug addictions, in Montgomery County includes:

·         Overall average wage increases of 4 percent in the first year and 2.5 percent in the second year, along with a new wage/salary scale that will give some nurses a 10 percent increase in the first year of the contract;

·         Improved leave-of-absence provisions that will cover nurses and technicians for up to 24 weeks, where their jobs will be protected while on a medical leave; and

·         The formation of a joint staffing committee that will focus on patient care issues including staffing.

“The nurses and techs at Eagleville are proud that they have won their first union contract,” said Megan Van Dame, a registered nurse and the president of the local union at Eagleville. “The process was difficult at times, but we have made significant gains and we look forward to concentrating on making sure our patients get the very best care we can.”

Eagleville’s administrative officials were not immediately available to comment on the contract.

PASNAP represents 8,000 health care professionals throughout the state. The nurses at Pottstown Memorial Medical Center joined the union this month.

Source: Philadelphia Business Journal