Albany Medical Center Presents Last and Best Contract Proposal to New York State Nurses Association
- Albany Med’s package calls for robust wage increases and enhanced benefits
- The offer was presented to NYSNA today after 30 weeks of good-faith negotiations
- NYSNA has one week to respond
Albany Medical Center announced today that it has presented a last and best contract proposal to the New York State Nurses Association (NYSNA). The contract would allow nurses to begin receiving higher wages and enhanced benefits the hospital has been waiting for more than half a year to provide.
“It is time to move forward,” said Albany Med Health System President and CEO Dennis P. McKenna, MD. “We invited NYSNA to the negotiating table in April and have negotiated in good faith in the best interest of our nurses for 30 weeks. Today we presented our best and final offer. We’re ready to give our nurses the benefits they have more than earned. Now it’s time for the union to take the deal.”
Albany Medical Center’s proposals include:
- Robust base hourly wage increases of up to over $11,000 per year retroactive to Aug. 1, 2024
- Enhanced benefits like preceptor pay and increased tuition reimbursement
- Heightened recruitment and retention efforts
- Nurses choose whether to pay union dues
The union has one week to respond to the offer. Albany Med has been seeking to advance an agreement for months. Progress has been stalled by the union, whose proposals have been contingent on requiring all Albany Med nurses to pay union dues.
“Not all nurses pay dues, and not all nurses want to pay dues. We firmly believe in the right for our nurses to choose, and we will not accept anything less,” Dr. McKenna said. “We have always listened to our nurses, we have always advocated for our nurses, and we will continue to do that. It’s time for NYSNA to listen to our nurses, too.”
The time-limited offer also considers Albany Med’s ongoing negotiations with CDPHP. The insurance company has not reimbursed the hospital for up to $50 million in withheld payments and has proposed a 2025 contract that would not cover the cost of care provided to CDPHP members. Because of the potentially significant impact this could place on hospital finances next year, retroactive pay would come off the table if the union does not agree to Albany Med’s proposals.