(ELIZABETHTOWN, NEW YORK) – New York State Nurses Association (NYSNA)-represented Nurses employed at the University of Vermont (UVM)-Elizabethtown Community Hospital have voted to overwhelmingly ratify a new contract after bargaining for months.

UVM-Elizabethtown Nurses fought for a fair contract that maintains Safe Staffing Standards and secures respectful wages and benefits to recruit and retain Nurses, Union Officials said.

NYSNA Nurses also secured access to the NYSNA Benefit Fund, which will deliver better and more affordable health benefits to Nurses.

NYSNA Nurses at Adirondack Medical Center, the last North Country Hospital represented by NYSNA without the Benefit Fund, continue to fight for strong Union benefits.  

Highlights of the contract include: Safe Staffing Standards maintained; Entrance into the NYSNA Benefit Fund starting January 1st, 2027; Wage increases of $3 an hour as an immediate market adjustment, plus yearly wage increases of 3%; and Additional pay incentives to maintain safe staffing and encourage Nurse retention. 

NYSNA President Nancy Hagans said, “We are so proud of our North Country Nurses who continue to improve health care in their communities while raising standards for Nurses. Over the last few months, Nurses have held speak-outs and raised their voices to bring attention to the crisis of care in the region. Improving care for our communities also requires ensuring Nurses receive wages and benefits that respect their work and ensure that Nurses can continue to do the work they do best. This contract shows that when NYSNA Nurses fight, we win!” 

NYSNA represents more than 42,000 Members across the State and is New York’s largest Union and Professional Association for Registered Nurses.

NYSNA is an affiliate of National Nurses United (NNU), the country's largest and fastest-growing Union and Professional Association of Registered Nurses, with more than 225,000 Members nationwide.

To Read This Labor News Story In Its Entirety, Go To: NYSNA Nurses at Elizabethtown Overwhelmingly Ratify Contract Agreement that Delivers Good Health Benefits for Nurses | New York State Nurses Association