Nurses have ratified a contract with University of Vermont Medical Center in Burlington.
The agreement covers about 1,800 licensed practical nurses, registered nurses and nurse practitioners represented by the Vermont Federation of Nurses and Health Professionals.
It includes a 16 percent average base salary increase over the life of the three-year contract, with raises of up to 30 percent for nurses in certain roles, according to hospital officials. Raises for ambulatory nurses will be retroactive to the first pay period in September.
The agreement, which expires July 9, 2021, comes after six months of bargaining and demonstrations by nurses, including a 48-hour strike. Both sides said they were pleased with the deal.
"This has been a long and difficult road for all of us, and we are extremely proud of what we have accomplished. We have shown the hospital, our community and ourselves what we are capable of. We will always do what it takes to fight for our patients and the well-being of the community we live and work in. This contract is a clear reflection of our commitments to our patients," union officials told Becker's.
UVM medical center officials said: "We are happy to share this long-awaited and positive news and look forward to implementing the many changes that will result from this new contract — which will enhance patient care, provide additional support for nurses and allow for new opportunities to advance the nursing profession."
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