Erie County Medical Center Corporation and New York State Nurses Association Announce New Contract Ratification
New 4-year contract ensures continued quality healthcare services for patients and fair wages for ECMCC nurses
BUFFALO, NEW YORK – The New York State Nurses Association and Erie County Medical Center Corporation (ECMCC) today announced ratification of a new, 4-year contract between the union and ECMCC. The ratification vote took place August 28th – August 29th and the ECMCC Board of Directors unanimously approved the new contract on August 30th.
Chiqkena Collins, RN, NYSNA Member said, “This contract is a huge win for the patients of the Erie County Medical Center, and the nurses who work day and night to care for the community. The agreement ensures fair wages and benefits as well as it gives the nurses a significant role in staffing decisions. We commend hospital management for their partnership in negotiating this contract.”
ECMCC President and CEO Thomas J. Quatroche Jr., Ph.D. said, “Thanks to the leadership and advocacy of NYSNA representatives and the hard work of ECMCC’s negotiation team, this 4-year contract provides our exceptional nurses with competitive wages and incentives that will enhance our ability to recruit in the marketplace, while continuing ECMCC’s financial stability and growth. Most importantly, both NYSNA and ECMCC focused throughout the negotiations on providing increased staffing, which will ultimately benefit our patients. Thanks also to ECMCC’s Board of Directors for their steadfast support throughout this process and for their unanimous approval of the contract.”
Some highlights of this contract include:
- 4yr. contract with 3% wage increases each year.
- Maintains current healthcare coverage with a 15% contribution.
- Addition of 45 new nursing positions with a structure to give NYSNA input into staffing units throughout the hospital.
ABOUT ERIE COUNTY MEDICAL CENTER (ECMC) CORPORATION: The ECMC Corporation was established as a New York State Public Benefit Corporation and since 2004 has included an advanced academic medical center with 573 inpatient beds, on- and off-campus health centers, more than 30 outpatient specialty care services and Terrace View, a 390-bed long-term care facility. ECMC is Western New York’s only Level 1 Adult Trauma Center, as well as a regional center for burn care, behavioral health services, transplantation, medical oncology and head & neck cancer care, rehabilitation and a major teaching facility for the University at Buffalo. Most ECMC physicians, dentists and pharmacists are dedicated faculty members of the university and/or members of a private practice plan. More Western New York residents are choosing ECMC for exceptional patient care and patient experiences – the difference between healthcare and true care™.
ABOUT NYSNA: The New York State Nurses Association is a union of 42,000 frontline nurses standing together for strength at work, our practice, safe staffing, and healthcare for all. We are New York’s largest union and professional association for registered nurses.