Technical professionals at the University of Vermont Medical Center in Burlington, Vt., voted to ratify a new contract with hospital management.
The three-year deal covers about 340 technical professionals represented by the Vermont Federation of Nurses and Health Professionals.
It includes wage increases and market adjustments of 10 percent to 25 percent over the life of the contract, hospital officials said in a news release. They said the increases are based on comprehensive market analysis for each job, along with factors such as recruitment and retention data.
Both sides began negotiations in December, about three months after the hospital's unionized nurses ratified a contract.
Negotiations with the technical professionals were similar to negotiations with nurses in that technicians also wore red and fought for working conditions to improve patient care, union officials said in a news release.
Union leaders said technical professionals "will continue to fight for patient safety issues, including appropriate rest periods between shifts and to extend important benefits equitably to all tech employees."
The medical center praised the agreement.
"We believe this agreement, which provides meaningful wage increases, recognizes the varied and vital work and dedication of the hospital's technical employees," said Chris Oliver, the hospital's vice president of clinical services. "We all share a commitment to providing high quality, affordable healthcare for the communities we serve, and to being responsible stewards of limited healthcare dollars. This agreement helps to make that possible."
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