Asheville Nurses Secure New Contract with Mission Hospital as Community Recovers from Hurricane Helene

Asheville Nurses and Mission Hospital Reach Contract Agreement Amid Storm Recovery

In the midst of recovery efforts from the recent Hurricane Helene, Asheville nurses and Mission Hospital have finally reached a long-anticipated agreement on a new contract. The announcement comes just two weeks after the tropical storm wreaked havoc throughout the region, leaving behind chaos and challenges for the healthcare professionals trying to care for patients.

A Long Road to Agreement

The journey towards this new contract wasn’t easy. Nurses at Mission Hospital have had to bear the weight of working under an expired contract since early July. The negotiations began over six months ago, with more than 1,600 unionized nurses coming together in September to vote on whether they would authorize a strike, should it be necessary. An overwhelming 97% supported the idea of a strike, reflecting their frustrations regarding patient safety, understaffing, and retention issues.

Although the nurses staged pickets over the summer to highlight their plight, they were able to avoid a strike. The recently ratified three-year contract is seen as a significant win for the nurses, featuring wage increases of up to 29% throughout its duration.

Key Features of the New Contract

This new agreement promises several essential improvements that aim to address the grievances voiced by the nurses. For instance, nurses will no longer be temporarily reassigned to unfamiliar units, which can often lead to anxiety and affect patient care. The contract also introduces a pilot program designed to ensure that nurses receive proper meal and rest breaks during their shifts, which is crucial for their well-being. Additionally, there are protections in place for nurses who wish to use chosen names or express their personal pronouns on name badges.

Challenges Following Hurricane Helene

In the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, Mission Hospital has been operating under severe crisis conditions. With an emergency room that was already overwhelmed, the added issue of not having running water posed a tough challenge for both nurses and administrators. “The devastation Hurricane Helene brought to our region underscores how Mission being the best possible version of itself is more important than ever,” said Asheville nurse Huns Brown.

In the weeks following the storm, the nurses have been working diligently to provide high-quality care amidst difficult circumstances. Nurse Hannah Drummond left her long post-storm shift in Asheville to travel to Orlando, where HCA representatives were meeting with nurses from 17 hospitals across six states, all operating under expired contracts. According to HCA spokesperson Nancy Lindell, the goal has always been to strive for an agreement that is fair to the hospital staff and allows for adaptability in the healthcare environment.

Underlying Concerns Remain

Despite the positive outcome of the contract negotiations, some nurses, including Drummond and Kerri Wilson, expressed their frustration over the hospital’s preparedness for disasters, pointing out that no disaster drills had been conducted in years. They feel that the hospital’s focus on bringing in nurses from out of state during the crisis overlooked the needs of local nurses.

Moreover, they raised concerns about workplace violence and uncontrolled patient visitation during the storm. “Things like this highlight problems that were already there and make them more evident,” Wilson noted.

A Step Forward for Nurses and Patients

However, with the ratification of the new contract, many are hopeful that these concerns will lead to further improvements in the future. Drummond stated, “Mission Hospital is so important to Asheville and all of western North Carolina. This contract is another step forward to making Mission the hospital it needs to be for our patients.” She emphasized the vital role that nurses play in the hospital’s operations, noting that “Nurses are the backbone of Mission Hospital, and this contract adds steel to our spine.”

As the community begins to heal from the storm, the focus remains on providing unwavering support and quality care to patients, reaffirming the commitment of Asheville’s healthcare professionals.