Mercy nurses ratify 5-year contract, hospital says

Details of contract not released

Mercy Health - Lorain Hospital’s nurses have a new work contract.

On March 31, the registered nurses ratified a five-year agreement with Mercy Health, according to the health system.

“The (novel coronavirus) pandemic has had an impact on all of us, both in the community, and in health care,” said Edwin Oley, Mercy Health - Lorain market president. “We are grateful to have come to an agreement that allows our ministry to adapt to the challenges we continue to face as a health care system and one that paves a path forward for both our associates and the future of health care here in Lorain County.”

About 450 nurses at the Lorain hospital are represented by the Service Employees International Union District 1199.

Mercy Health – Lorain appreciates that SEIU-represented registered nurses ratified a 5-year agreement, said a statement from Jennifer Robinson, spokeswoman for the health care system.

“We are grateful for the opportunity to have reached a solution that allows us to further grow our ministry, and respond to the ever-changing needs of those we serve in the greater Lorain community,” the company’s statement said. “We appreciate the ability to work with our associates’ bargaining committees and with union leadership.

“The agreement provides pay and shift differential increases and other improvements.”

The last five-year contract was set to expire March 31.

Mercy Health did not release exact details of nurses’ pay and benefits under the new contract.

SEIU 1199 chief negotiator Geoff Davies confirmed the nurses ratified the work agreement.

The nurses union was preparing a communication for its members, Davies said.

He declined to release exact details on the contract until the union leaders had a chance to share information with the nurses.

On March 26, the union held a Rally for RNs with informational discussion and a food drive for Lighthouse Methodist Church, 3015 Meister Road in Lorain.

The nurses attending agreed with goals such as better staffing with better incentives to stay, better leave, more affordable health insurance, shift pay differentials and other conditions, and “a real recognition and solution to low staffing,” as listed in an information handout there.