TAMC, union reach tentative agreement
PRESQUE ISLE — A tentative agreement has been reached between The Aroostook Medical Center and the nurses represented by the Maine State Nurses Association/National Nurses United.
Contract negotiations Jan. 24 resulted in both parties signing a tentative agreement to move forward for formal ratification. MSNA/NNU members at TAMC will vote on the document Jan. 30. TAMC executive leadership will recommend the agreement for final approval to the TAMC board of trustees at their next meeting Thursday, Feb. 7.
If ratified, the contract will be effective for three years. The agreement stipulates for general wage increases each year.
“We are pleased to have reached this tentative agreement,” said Thomas Umphrey, TAMC vice president, employee services. “The entire TAMC team comes together each and every day to deliver high quality health care services that are vitally important to The County, and the extent of which are not typically found in rural areas of our size. This has never been more evident than in recent weeks with the outstanding response of team members across our organization to the widespread influenza epidemic.
“Our nurses, physicians, and staff across the organization demonstrate this commitment to excellence, which is evident in the numerous awards we have received of late from independent organizations for patient safety, high quality care, and commitment to our patients and the community,” he said.
