(THREE RIVERS) – Nurses at Three Rivers Beacon Health have a new contract.

On Tuesday, the nurses at the facility voted overwhelmingly to ratify a new contract, after months of negotiations and a successful informational picket in June.

The three year contract takes effect immediately.

Brandy Shoup is an RN, and President of the local union at Three Rivers, which is part of the Michigan Nurses Association. She says the nurses fought hard for a strong union contract because it will help recruit and retain nurses, which is needed to provide the best care possible.

Some of the features of the new contract include: raises that average 12.6% over the life of the contract, putting Three Rivers RN’s near the top of the regional market, plus a top of the scale bonus; improvements to make the nurses’ health insurance more accessible and affordable; an increased retirement contribution; and increased pay for mandated hours and limits on management’s ability to force nurses to work extra hours.

This contract is the first that Beacon Health negotiated in Michigan since it acquired four southwest Michigan Ascension facilities.