The threat of a strike for nurses at MercyOne in Sioux City appears to be over.
The union bargaining team announced on social media Thursday both sides worked out a tentative agreement.
Union members still need to vote for the agreement to become official.
The hospital and nurses were embroiled in a contract dispute spanning more than seven months. Their contract expired in September. Ten-days ago, nurses gave the go ahead for a potential walk out. The hospital even contracted with a staffing agency in case the nurses hit the picket line.
Sticking points in previous offers included understaffing, competitive wages and benefits. Local negotiators told Siouxland Public Media News they worried about the safety of patients at the medical facility.
MercyOne released this statement Thursday night:
“We are pleased that after more than seven months of working to reach a fair and equitable contract agreement, MercyOne Siouxland leaders and nursing union representatives from UCFW Local 222 have reached a tentative agreement.
We look forward to continuing to provide extraordinary, compassionate care for the patients and families we are privileged to serve.”
The Union sent this statement to Siouxland Public Media on Friday, January 24th:
MercyOne Siouxland Nurses have a recommended tentative agreement!
SIOUX CITY, IA – Today, January 23rd, United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 222, which represents more than 300 MercyOne nurses in the Siouxland community, issued the following statement after 2 days of bargaining. These negotiations are after members voted overwhelmingly to authorize an unfair labor practice strike.
“The Union Bargaining team is pleased to announce we have a recommended tentative agreement! Thank you to our community, friends and family for your love and support. We are proud of our unity and are pleased that we were able to achieve a recommended tentative agreement.”
The nurses will vote on the recommended contract proposal in the upcoming days.
BACKGROUND
MercyOne nurses have been in contract negotiations for more than six months and have received strong support from the Siouxland community through petitions, a candlelight vigil, and rallies.
