The Maine State Nurses Association and Eastern Maine Medical Center have ratified a two-year agreement that will run until March 31, 1992. The agreement includes two wage increases: an increase of 4 percent on April 1, 1990, and 6 percent on April 1, 1991. It also includes other economic benefits and changes in language relating to scheduling, education and professional issues.

According to Laura Fortin, president of the Bargaining Unit, “This contract represents a good economic package, but more importantly, begins to address the issue of salary compression, which is a serious issue for nurses. This contract provides two additional steps after 10 years.”

Lynn Brown, senior administrator of the medical center, commented on the “professional atmosphere in which negotiations were conducted.” Negotiations were concluded three weeks before the contract expired.

Anna Gilmore, director of the Economic and General Welfare Program of Maine State Nurses Association, and Nathaniel Bond, EMMC’s personnel director, agreed that the contract will aid the continued positive labor-management relations at the medical center. Bond said, “Negotiations were intense, professional and courteous. Our board of trustees recognized the need to maintain competitive nursing wages, while responding to the need to control the rising cost of health care.”

EMMC’s board of trustees ratified the agreement on March 22. The Bargaining Unit ratified it on March 16.