May 10, 2011
By Michael A. Harris
After nine months of negotiations, the United Steel Workers and the New York State Nurses Association have reached a tentative three year labor agreement with management of NYSNA.
The 36,000 workers went out on strike at 11:59 p.m. Friday, with picketing scheduled to begin yesterday, however, with the assistance of a federal mediator, the parties agreed to negotiate throughout the weekend. A tentative agreement was finally reached at 1 a.m. Monday morning.
A contract ratification vote has been scheduled for later today.
The tentative agreement provides for continuation of the current health and pension benefits, wage increases, grievance and arbitration procedures, and a plan for staff schedule adjustments related to workload. The staff members will continue to strike until the vote is finalized.
If the contract is ratified workers will return to work tomorrow.
