The Jersey Nurses Economic Security Organization District Council 1 has narrowly avoided a strike at Pocono Medical Center in East Stroudsburg, Pa., by ratifying a tentative agreement for a three-year contract, according to a Lehigh Valley Business report.
The contract — which covers roughly 500 registered nurses in the healthcare network — addresses issues such as understaffing and patient safety issues. As part of the contract, PMC agreed to increase staffing in the emergency rooms and review staffing in the telemetry and medical surgical units.
PMC Director of Community/Government Relations Geoffrey Roche expressed optimism regarding the new agreement, saying, "We have reached an agreement that is fair and in the best interests of our patients, employees and community."
The agreement follows eight weeks of bargaining between the two organizations and a 10-day strike notice.
The union's previous contract expired on Jan. 31 and the new one extends through Jan. 31, 2018.
More articles on strikes:
Kaiser Permanente Hawaii workers kick off 6-day strike
University of Chicago Medicine nurses approve strike
Kaiser Permanente to close clinics in Hawaii, consolidate operations during weeklong labor strike