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Massachusetts Nurse :: November/December
2004
Nurses at VNA and Hospice of Cooley Dickinson ratify contract
On October 1, the nurses at the VNA and Hospice of Cooley Dickinson, Inc. in
Northampton ratified a new three-year agreement that provides across-the-board pay
increase of 6 percent in the first year, 3.5 percent in the second year and 3.5 percent in
the third year. The contract also provides one new 3 percent step at the top of the pay
scale.
Other highlights of the agreement include:
- A new
per diem differential.
- Improvements in differentials
for nurses who have a BSN.
- Increases for
weekend and shift differentials.
- Increase
for mileage to the prevailing federal rate which is in effect
on January
1 of each year.
- A bonus vacation week for nurses
attaining their fifteen years of continuous
service.
- Improved vacation benefits, including:
15 days for one to three years of service; 20 days for four to 19 years;
and 25 days after 20 years of service.
- Two
new important pieces of health and safety language that provide for
regular training for personal safety/violence prevention at no cost to
the nurse and
on work time. The agency also will provide measures such as escorts
for nurses in
need of assistance.
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