By Caitlyn Scott

WTAE

PITTSBURGH — Nurses at UPMC Western Psychiatric Hospital said they have “won a historic union contract” following months of negotiations with UPMC over concerns of closures and rising mental health cases.

In a statement Sunday, the nurses’ union said the contract agreement will guarantee a “first-ever guaranteed wage rate above $40 for nurses with a Bachelor of Nursing anywhere in UPMC,” which will be an incentive towards “improving staffing so beds that were previously closed can reopen.”

“Together, we have proven that when UPMC nurses unite, we can achieve historic improvements for our patients, our families, our community and our profession,” Chris Hunter, who has been a nurse at Western Psych for eight years, said in the statement. “Even though we’re a smaller hospital and UPMC has deprioritized us for years, we were able to hold executives accountable and create groundbreaking progress.”

The contract comes weeks after the nurses’ union unanimously authorized a strike after concerns over UPMC’s closure of beds, understaffing, and policy changes.

“The historic contract invests in recruitment, retention, and respect to ensure quality care and address the growing mental health crisis,” the statement read.

Nurses at UPMC Western Psychiatric Hospital had been negotiating a new union contract with UPMC since Aug. 1 after their previous contract expired in September.

“The stunning victory follows on the heels of a rally and unanimous strike vote, and includes groundbreaking pay raises that are unprecedented within the UPMC system,” the statement said Sunday.