On Dec. 6, registered nurses at Capital Medical Center in Olympia, Wash., ratified a new contract. The workers are members of UFCW Local 21.
The three-year contract includes 9.75 percent wage increases over the duration of the contract, a first time for their hospital education fund, premium increases for night shift and charge nurses, as well as additional pay for those workers who have a bachelor of science in nursing degree.
“We have seen high turnover rates amongst our nurses,” said Carol Cairone, a registered nurse at Capital Medical Center. “By taking action together, we won educational opportunities that will help recruit and retain nurses here at Capital in the future.”