UChicago Medicine Ingalls RNs Ratify New 4-Year Contract for Safety & Retention

UChicago Medicine Ingalls Memorial Nurses Approve New Contract

In a decisive move, registered nurses at UChicago Medicine Ingalls Memorial Hospital in Harvey, Illinois, have ratified a new four-year agreement as of Monday, April 7. This contract, backed by the National Nurses Organizing Committee/National Nurses United (NNOC/NNU), aims to enhance patient safety measures and improve nurse retention. The effort to secure a robust contract has been underway since December 2024.

"With this new contract that benefits new and veteran nurses, we are building a new future at Ingalls," stated Katie Uzoras, RN, a nurse in the telemetry unit. "This contract will benefit our community, our patients, and nurses’ safety."

Key Features of the Agreement

• Safe Staffing Provisions: The contract includes the addition of specialized resource and rapid response nurses, along with extra staff to ensure coverage during meal and break times.
• Technology Protections: Measures are in place to prevent the over-expansion of artificial intelligence within the nursing sector.
• Recruitment and Retention Measures: The agreement offers economic improvements, such as a 24 percent average salary increase over the contract's duration, and expands paid time off benefits.
• No Contract Takeaways: Ensures that no previously existing benefits are removed.

"We’re not done yet," commented Kelly Flavin, RN, from the rehabilitation unit. "There’s more work to do and we are now better equipped to advocate for ourselves and our patients."

The newly ratified contract will be in effect from April 7, 2025, to April 7, 2029, encompassing more than 380 nurses at UChicago Medicine Ingalls Memorial Hospital.

National Nurses United stands as the largest and fastest-growing union and professional association for registered nurses in the United States, boasting nearly 225,000 members nationwide. NNU affiliates include California Nurses Association/National Nurses Organizing Committee, DC Nurses Association, Michigan Nurses Association, Minnesota Nurses Association, and New York State Nurses Association.

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