The Negotiating Team for employees of Altoona Regional Health System has reached a tentative agreement. The agreement covers nearly 1,000 members of Local 691, which was formed when Altoona Hospital (Local 3156) and Bon Secours Holy Family Regional Health System (Local 45) merged.
Local 691 is currently finishing out the final year of two current contracts under a “bridge agreement” they negotiated to address the problems created by the merger.
In addition, the Local is negotiating its next contract in a whole new way, using a process suggested by federal mediators called “interest-based bargaining.”
Interest-based bargaining is based on the principle that increased cooperation will result in a “win-win” situation, and the interests of both parties will be better met.
“We took a weeklong course in interest-based bargaining last year,” says Tim Miller, Staff Representative from District Council 83. Miller represents Local 691, the largest group at the hospital. It includes clerical, dietary, housekeeping, and maintenance workers, as well as LPNs, nurse’s aides, respiratory therapists, and xray technicians. |
