The Brattleboro Federation of Nurses represents nearly 100 Registered Nurses at the Bratleboro Memorial Hospital. We are proud to be union nurses and of the many accomplishments we have achieved through the collective bargaining process.
We started organizing way back in 1974. At that time we said that we needed to "promote the professional aspects of nursing and the delivery of quality patient care". Twenty seven years later we are still comitted to the values of professionalism and quality patient care. We have learned that by coming together around our common issues and showing strength through solidarity that we can have a REAL voice in the decision making process.
We initially organized with the Vermont State Nurses Association and signed our first contract in 1977. However we felt we needed to be affiliated with a stronger organization and chose to affiliate with the Federation of Nurses and Health and Health Professionals/AFT in 1983. We have been very pleased with the national Federation of Nurses and Health Professionals and with the AFT Vermont state affiliate, United Professions of Vermont.Recently we completed contract negotiations and were able to secure an average compensation increase of 21% over three years and language which will limit the assignment of mandatory overtime. Click here to read about our contract settlement.
We are happy to talk with other Vermont health professionals nurses about what organizing has meant for us and about what the Federation of Nurses and Health Professionals can offer you. You can contact our President, Gloria Solar, at (802)257-8012.
