Nurses, technicians and healthcare workers at Windham Community Memorial Hospital in Willimantic, Conn., ratified three-year contracts with the hospital on Jan. 27.
The agreements were reached after nine months of negotiations and cover approximately 350 caregivers represented by the American Federation of Teachers Locals 5099 and 5041.
Under the agreements, wages are frozen, unless Windham turns a profit, according to hospital officials.
In a joint statement provided to Becker's,Bimal Patel, Windham Hospital president, said the approval of the agreements is "the result of good faith negotiations on the part of hospital management and the two bargaining units."
"We are pleased that union members accepted the agreement," Mr. Patel added. "As always, our goal is to work together so all of us at Windham Hospital can do our very best to provide high-quality, affordable healthcare — especially during these highly uncertain times for the healthcare industry."
Local union presidents Leigh Johnson and Heidi Kolle touted AFT members for their work in reaching the agreements.
"As caregivers, we understand the challenges facing our community hospital," Ms. Kolle, a patient access services associate in emergency room registration/admitting with 26 years of experience at Windham Hospital, said in the statement. "That's why our members approved an agreement that links our success to the hospital's success," added Ms. Kolle, president of Windham Memorial Community Hospital Employees United, AFT Local 5099 which also represents service workers and support staff.
Ms. Johnson, a registered nurse who serves as president of the Windham Hospital Nurses Union, AFT Local 5041, said, "Our number one priority has been protecting community access to vital services."