BANGOR, Maine — Eastern Maine Medical Center and the union that represents nurses who work there avoided a strike planned for next week when a tentative contract agreement was reached early Wednesday morning.
EMMC and Maine State Nurses Association/National Nurses Organizing Committee/National Nurses United issued press releases announcing the agreement on a three-year contract.
An additional 30 RNs are to be hired to address staffing shortages under the agreement. Further details will be disclosed after the ratification vote, according to the nurses union press release. A vote to ratify the agreement is set for Friday, according to Vanessa Sylvester of the nurses union.
The agreement calls for a 2 percent annual pay raise over three years, according to EMMC.
The nurses union was seeking an 8 percent wage increase across the board over three years, according to a previously published report.
Registered nurses have been working without a contract since May 30.
The union, which represents about 858 nurses at EMMC, was scheduled to go on strike next Monday and Tuesday.
“This agreement will address important staffing concerns that we have for our patients in the community and region,” EMMC RN Steve Akerley said.
“By having reduced patient ratios, we look forward to doing the kind of nursing we would like to do — which means providing the kind of care we would provide for our loved ones. The community has been especially supportive of this effort and we want to thank everyone,” he said.
Deborah Carey Johnson, EMMC president and CEO, called the agreement “responsible” in a press release issued by the hospital.
“This agreement is the result of compromises on both sides,” she said. “It is a responsible contract for the hospital and community and acknowledges our nurses’ essential contribution to patient care. The agreement ensures we can remain focused on our greatest priority: providing high quality care to our patients.”
EMMC’s bargaining team must now bring the tentative contract to its board of directors, the release said.