Kent Hospital & Nurses' Union Reach 'Tentative' Agreement

EAST GREENWICH, RI — Kent County Hospital and the nurses' union have a 'tentative' agreement on two deals: one for newly organized nurses and a separate agreement for 800 nurses already represented, Care New England said. Here is the press release.

The United Nurses and Allied Professionals and Kent Hospital reached a tentative agreement Sunday night, October 22, on a first contract for 400 newly organized employees and a contract extension for the 800 employees currently under contract. Members voted by an overwhelming margin to approve the two agreements Monday night. Both contracts will run through at least June 30, 2020.

The difficult and complex negotiations dealt with two fundamental issues. The first was bringing the newly organized employees pay and benefits up to the level of already-organized employees. The second issue was a contract extension, providing employees with security and stability while Care New England seeks to establish an organizational partner for the future. The first contract for the 400 newly organized employees largely places all members in the same pay benefit structure. The contract extension includes a one-year wage freeze in 2018 with wage increases in 2019 and 2020.

Union president Rose Desnoyers, RN, said, “This agreement achieves two major goals for our members. First, we are very pleased that our 400 new members now have the benefit of a union contract. Second, the contract extensions provide stability and certainty for all of our members over the next several years.”

Michael Dacey, MD, Kent Hospital president and COO, said, “I am extremely pleased with the agreement reached and the tremendous support indicated by Monday’s vote. I believe this new contract is the result of both sides coming together and achieving positive outcomes that put the future of the hospital first, while addressing the important concerns of the union membership.”

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