Indiana – January 22, 2014 --- Following 32 hours of negotiations over the weekend, the unionized nurses of Indiana Regional Medical Center have reached a tentative agreement in their contract talks with IRMC.
“I commend both teams on working hard to try and reach a fair agreement that helps to position both IRMC employees and the Medical Center positively for the future,” said Steve Wolfe, President & CEO of IRMC. “Healthcare is becoming an increasingly difficult environment to navigate, but we’re excited that this helps keep IRMC on the right path.”
“The parties worked hard to achieve this agreement,” said Barbara Henning, PSEA Region Field Director, who served as chief negotiator for the nurses. “It was not an easy process, but we were able to engage in a fruitful dialogue about patient safety, which kept us mindful of why we are here. It was encouraging to be able to have meaningful discussions in an atmosphere of respect and appreciation.”
The details of the agreement will not be available until after the nurses ratify it. Meetings to discuss and vote on the new contract are set for January 28 and January 30, 2014.
The Indiana Registered Nurses Association/HealthCare-PSEA represents approximately 300 Registered Nurses and Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists. Union and hospital negotiation teams began bargaining in October, 2013. The IRNA’s previous contract expired on Monday, January 20, 2014.
Indiana Regional Medical Center, in partnership with its communities, strives to be the healthcare center for quality, accessible, cost-effective healthcare. Indiana Regional Medical Center is dedicated to promoting health and wellness through education and compassionate, caring services throughout Indiana County and the surrounding communities.
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