A union spokesperson for registered nurses at Montefiore Medical Center call the new four-year contract a major victory.

The nurses have been working without a contract for 18 months. Nurses claimed hospital management cut their overtime pay and that they were forced to work in poor conditions and were overworked. The new contract includes a significant pay increase to be paid retroactively. Also, it will give additional pay for experience in an effort to keep veteran nurses at the hospital.

There will be programs put in place to deal with violence in the workplace. And, there will be a system to make sure there is enough staff to handle patient loads. The health and retirement plan will remain the same. The new contract will expire in January of 2009.

Related Information Union representing Montefiore nurses back at bargaining table with hospital