1,300 Nurses at Allegheny General Hospital ratify new union contract focused on recruitment, retention, and high quality patient care

On Monday, October 30, 2017, an overwhelming majority of the 1,300 registered nurses at Allegheny General Hospital voted to approve a new union contract after reaching an agreement with management that raises hiring rates for nurses, provides longevity increases for experienced nurses, and continues to improve the nurse to patient ratios which are currently part of the contract on all inpatient units. This contract also secures nurses defined benefit pension and other retirement benefits, and maintains high quality affordable healthcare benefits for nurses.

“Throughout these negotiations, we have remained focused on two goals: making sure there are always enough nurses at the bedside for our patients, and that our input is respected in care-delivery decisions,” said Cathy Stoddart, President of the nurses’ union. “This contract achieves those goals and we’re looking forward to the improvements in patient care that come with it.”

In addition to investing in nurses pay and compensation and resources towards RN staffing, the contract expands the quality and process improvement initiatives that nurses have spearheaded over the last seven years. Nurses at the hospital know that these provisions in the new contract will make Allegheny General Hospital the employer of choice for RNs in the region enhancing to recruit and retain nurses, an issue that has become essential in the highly competitive Pittsburgh health care market.

“Nurses have been leading quality improvement and innovation at Allegheny General, and we’re excited that those programs will expand under this contract,” said Stoddart. “We know that AHN will be leading in this region in both patient safety and highest quality of care with these investments for patients and nurses in our union contract. This contract is an open invitation for nurses to come apply at AGH because we have created a better work environment where nurses are respected and rewarded for the care we give.”