Nurses and health care workers reach deal with Women & Infants Hospital

December 20, 2016 10:57 pm

By: News Staff

news@abc6.com

PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Nurses and health care workers at Women and Infants Hospital reached an agreement on Tuesday.

Negotiations have been on-going since September, but earlier this week, the union voted to strike for 10 days if necessary.

"In recent years our jobs have become more physically and emotionally demanding as more patients with complex issues like opioid addiction come into the labor and delivery room," said Carol Reuter, a registered nurse at Women & Infants for over 30 years. "I am proud that my co-workers and I united to improve quality care by winning better staffing and a commitment from our hospital to hire more nurses.”

The four year deal includes investment in job training to help health care workers climb the career ladder, and a promise to hire more frontline staff.

Authorities say the contract also has increased job security, certifying that anyone who has worked more than four years at the hospital cannot be laid off, and in addition, a two percent pay increase each year.

"Through contract negotiations we have won improvements for our patients. I am proud that my co-workers and I continue to make Women & Infants a world class facility for our community,” said Dhamarys Murillo, who has worked at Women & Infants for 22 years.