The Indiana Regional Medical Center has announced that an “impasse in negotiations” has been reached between them and the Indiana Registered Nurses Association.
In a news release, IRMC says that the two sides have only met twice since the hospital presented what they called their “last, best and final offer” on February 18th, with both meetings ending with the nurses’ union rejecting the offer and making counter-offers of their own. The impasse declaration from IRMC comes after the nurses’ union made what the hospital called a “regressive bargaining proposal” to the hospital.
The Last, Best and Final offer would give the nurses a 6.5% wage increase, a transition to a paid-time-off program, and increases in health care monthly premiums.
Hospital officials said that since the start of negotiations, they have stated that they have been clear with all union representatives that changes in healthcare costs and other benefits would be necessary in order for the hospital to avoid losses that could affect its independence.
The two sides have had twenty-six negotiating sessions over the last seven months. Members of the IRNA went on a one-day strike outside the hospital on November 26th, but the nurses were not allowed to return to work until the end of the week as the hospital had hired replacement nurses for the week, which according to the hospital, was the minimum number of days they could hire.
