Special to the Daily News
After several months of continued negotiations and a nurses’ strike that has lasted nearly three months, Appalachian Regional Healthcare (ARH) and the Kentucky and West Virginia Nurses Associations (KNA/WVNA) early this morning reached a tentative collective bargaining agreement and return to work agreement for the health system’s registered nurses.
Details of the agreement will be kept confidential until the approximately 700 registered nurses represented by the KNA/WVNA and covered under the contract, have the opportunity to vote on the new proposal this weekend.
“Obviously, the last three months have been a difficult time for everyone, but I am happy to report that in this proposed tentative agreement - the Kentucky and West Virginia Nurses Associations remain strong and intact. No nurse is left behind and our issues have been addressed. Ratification voting will be conducted on Friday and Saturday,” said Pat Tanner, chief negotiator for the Kentucky and West Virginia Nurses Associations.
“ARH and the KNA/WVNA worked through some very difficult issues to reach this tentative agreement, which demonstrates our mutual commitment to both maintaining and enhancing patient care and improving the workplace,” said Dan Fitzpatrick, ARH executive director of human resources and labor relations. “This tentative agreement reflects compromises by both parties which were made in the long-term best interests of all stakeholders including the communities we serve, the nurses and all other employees who support the mission and the organization.”
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