The nurses and health professionals at Burlington (Wis.) Memorial Hospital, Local 5012, represented by the Wisconsin Federation of Nurses and Health Professionals, recently voted to accept a new contract. The agreement provides a pension offset bonus of $250,000 which is equal to about 3.5 percent of the annual wage for each employee. Over the summer, union members donned wedding gowns to protest a comment by an Aurora Health Care official who said the workers should marry well if they want better pensions.

“This is one of the most difficult contracts that we have dealt with thus far, and I believe that organizing the rest of the facilities will be the key to moving forward on future issues,” said Burlington president Pam Mueller.

Members of Brookhaven Memorial Federation of Nurses and Health Professionals recently agreed to a three-year contract with Brookhaven Memorial Hospital Medical Center in East Patchogue, N.Y. The 535-member union represents nurses, pharmacists, physician assistants and other health professionals. The new contract includes wage increases of 4 percent this year, 3 percent in 2006 and 4 percent in 2007. The wage increases boost starting salaries, putting them closer to those of nearby healthcare facilities. In addition, the union negotiated new longevity rates for nurses and health professionals. There also were increases to the volunteer incentive program, tuition reimbursement, and home care and hospice call rates.

The 875 members of the Lawrence & Memorial Hospital Healthcare Workers Union, Local 5123, in New London, Conn., ratified a new two-year agreement that will increase wages between 5 percent and 5.8 percent each year. Members already at the top of the wage scale will receive a 2 percent wage increase plus an annual bonus of $500 for full-time employees and $250 for part-time workers.

“Our union negotiating team and our members are pleased with this bargaining effort,” Jo Ann Holmes, Local 5123 president, told The Day newspaper. “We believe our membership has a sound contract for the next two years that rewards members for the outstanding work they do to support patient care at Lawrence & Memorial Hospital.”

The members of Milwaukee County Chapter, Local 5001 of the Wisconsin Federation of Nurses and Health Professionals, recently ratified a new contract. The workers had been working under a contract that expired in December 2004. Members refused a demand by the county that they accept a wage freeze along with changes to their to health insurance. The final agreement included small changes in health benefits for 2006 and a 2 percent raise, plus new longevity steps for most registered nurses.