Hundreds of nurses at Richland, Wash.-based Kadlec Regional Medical Center and their supporters rallied this week, asking for a fair contract, according to a Tri-City Herald report.
Here are four things to know about the rally and contract negotiations.
1. The rally follows months of unsuccessful contract negotiations between the hospital and nurses, who are represented by the Washington State Nurses Association. According to the report, negotiations for a new three-year contract, covering about 813 nurses at the hospital, began last spring.
2. Staffing levels and paid time off are among the sticking points of negotiations.
3. Nurses contend the hospital won't agree to language assuring proper staffing to provide necessary and legally mandated rest and meal breaks, according to the report. They also claim the hospital won't let nurses enroll in the new medical benefits plan without permanent cuts in paid sick and vacation leave, according to the report.
4. In a statement, Kadlec officials said the are still committed to negotiating in good faith. "We have made progress toward a new agreement, but there are still issues to resolve. We are not discussing details to respect the process and keep the talks at the table," they said, according to the report. "We believe together with our nurses we can come to a successful resolution to this process. Our nurses are key members of our caregiver team and we look forward to coming to an agreement on a new contract. We all share the same goal of making sure that we continue to provide high-quality, compassionate care to our community."
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