WESTERLY HOSPITAL, NURSES UNION EXTEND CONTRACT THREE YEARS

Westerly — Westerly Hospital and the United Nurses & Allied Professionals union have reached terms on a three-year contract extension.

The parties have agreed not to share specific terms of the agreement, other than its duration of three years. The current contract, signed in 2017, was set to expire June 30, 2020. It nows extends to June 30, 2023.

UNAP members ratified the agreement earlier this month.

The union has more than 350 members in two bargaining units — the professional/technical bargaining unit and the service and maintenance and skilled maintenance bargaining unit.

“Westerly Hospital is stable, successful and growing,” said Patrick Green, president and chief executive officer. “Our success is a testament to the compassionate care our employees provide the patients we are privileged to serve. It’s a great time to be a member of the Westerly Hospital team, and this extension demonstrates our commitment to creating the ideal workplace for our associates.”

“For more than 90 years, this hospital has taken care of our community,” said Jackie Desmond, a registered nurse and president of Local 5075, the professional/technical bargaining unit. “With this extension, it will bring us closer to providing a century of care. This extension is a perfect example of the commitment our members have made to this organization and to our patients.”

“Our members are pleased,” said Judy Lawrence, patient access team leader and president of Local 5104, the service and maintenance and skilled maintenance bargaining unit. “Hard work and compromise are essential to any collective bargaining process. That’s what we achieved here, and it is our patients who