Millinocket Nurses Ratify New Contract with Strong Measures to Improve Patient Safety & Nurse Retention

Registered nurses at Millinocket Regional Hospital in Millinocket, voted in favor of ratifying a new three-year contract on November 1, winning protections to improve patient safety and nurse retention, according to the Maine State Nurses Association/National Nurses Organizing Committee (MSNA/NNOC).

“This contract greatly improves our ability to recruit and retain nurses which is essential to safe patient care,” said Dyana Gallant, RN and a bargaining team member. “We also made improvements that hold the hospital accountable for making sure the workplace is safe and measures are being taken to prevent workplace violence.”

Highlights of the contract include:

• Workplace violence prevention protections, including reporting language and security precautions.
• Investment in continuing education.
• Economic gains and health benefit provisions to help retain and recruit experienced nurses. The new agreement includes wage increases of 10 to 11 percent over the term of the contract and step increases.
• Maintainence of all standards and benefits of previous contract, with no takeaways.