At a membership meeting Friday, registered nurses at Eastern Maine Medical Center (EMMC) voted overwhelmingly to ratify a new collective bargaining contract with the hospital, the Maine State Nurses Association/National Nurses United (MSNA/NNU) announced today.

"We are united by our commitment to the patients we serve," said Chief Steward and EMMC RN Steve Akerly. "Today's vote shows that Eastern Maine nurses don't just talk the talk. We walk the walk."

Significant measures to strengthen patient care delivery were key to the contract settlement. A centerpiece of the contract is the commitment of the hospital to hire 30 additional RNs to alleviate staffing shortages, reduction of patient care assignments for RNs working night shifts, and expansion of the use of “resource nurses” to buttress safe staffing in the Emergency Department and on general medical-surgical patient floors.

Further, the contract will expand the voice of RNs in addressing patient care concerns with management, through their elected Professional Practice Committee (PPC), including shortening the time for management to respond to concerns raised by the PPC about hospital staffing plans, and an independent review panel for resolving disputes.

All EMMC RNs will receive a 6 percent increase in pay over the three years of the agreement, which they say, along with several other economic improvements, will help with retention of experienced RNs for the community served by the hospital.

The RNs were also able to resist any reductions in RN economic or workplace standards, as sought by many hospital employers across the nation.

After working under an extended contract since May, nurses say they are proud to have stood their ground to reach this agreement, which they call “groundbreaking.”

MSNA/NNOC represents 800 RNs at the hospital.

"Our unity is our strength,” said MSNA President and EMMC RN Cokie Giles. “Because we stood together, management had to listen to our concerns. We look forward to having even more tools now to serve our community with the highest possible quality of care."

MSNA/NNOC is an affiliate of National Nurses United, the largest U.S. organization of nurses. In Maine, MSNA represents over 2000 nurses who work in facilities and agencies throughout the state.