HONOLULU—Dialysis nurses from Fresenius Medical Care dialysis centers in Hawaii unanimously voted to approve a new 3-year agreement effective Feb. 1, 2010. The agreement affects 85 nurses at seven of Fresenius’ dialysis centers in Hawaii.
Highlights of the agreement include wage increases of 2.5 percent per year through 2013; maintenance of the 10-year $1 per hour longevity pay; maintenance of the “no cap" benefits in medical and dental premiums paid by nurses with the employer paying up to 90 percent; increase in the weeks of paid orientation provided by the employer from four to eight weeks; bereavement leave benefits for immediate family members who are reciprocal beneficiaries; increase in timeline for grievance filing from seven to 14 business days; strengthening of union security and membership provisions; and strengthening of arbitration provisions.
"The new agreement reached with Fresenius Dialysis demonstrates HNA's continued strong record of delivering wage increases and improvements in working conditions for its members without giving concessions," said Patt A. Gibbs, Esq., executive director for the Hawaii Nurses’ Association.
