Samaritan Health reaches wage agreement with NYSNA

WATERTOWN, N.Y. — Samaritan Health in Watertown announced it has reached an agreement with the New York State Nurses Association (NYSNA) to raise wages for its unionized registered nurses (RNs) by 14 percent, “in light of current market conditions.” 

As a result of this agreement, Samaritan has increased its starting RN wage from $30.41 to $34.67 per hour. The average full-time Samaritan RN earns about $82,500 per year, per its Nov. 23 news release.

Samaritan completed a significant market-rate adjustment for its employees in August of this year that impacted many positions and led to adopting a new $15 per hour minimum wage rate for all entry-level positions. 

About 1,200 staff received a pay increase at that time. RN wages did not increase in August due to Samaritan’s assessment that its wages remained market-competitive “at that time.” However, RNs did receive a 1 percent lump-sum payment for their work.

Local and regional market RN wages have increased “dramatically” since August, and Samaritan Health said it recognized its nursing staff wages “needed to be adjusted.” 

As Samaritan completed its analysis, NYSNA presented a proposal that Samaritan says was consistent with its analysis and was accepted. 

The agreement that was ratified by a vote of RNs on Nov. 22 and will be retroactive to Aug. 1, 2021. It impacts 408 RNs at Samaritan Medical Center, the organization said.

Samaritan contends that the pay change for its nurses will ensure the RNs are paid rates “well within the competitive range” for the northern New York region.

As the nationwide shortage of registered nurses continues to impact hospital systems throughout the country, Samaritan Health stipulates that the increase will supplement its efforts to recruit and retain nurses.