Leaders from the nurses' union and Appalachian Regional Healthcare are optimistic about a tentative contract and back to work agreements reached Thursday afternoon. Now members of the Kentucky and West Virginia Nurses Associations will vote on a new contract for a third time since September but this time, union leaders are backing the proposal.

Union nurses on the Whitesburg picket line say they appreciate supporters like Roy Jent.

"I stopped by to see if they needed firewood. I support them 100 percent, been a union man all my life," Jent said.

Friday and Saturday, about 700 union nurses will have the opportunity to vote on a new contract proposal from ARH, this time with the union's endorsement.

"If they've reached a tentative agreement, they're satisfied with it, I'm tickled to death too. I'll be glad to see them go back to work and I know they want to go back to work, because it's Christmas time, you know," Jent said.

"We've been here three months. It's been way too long. We have a lot of experience sitting on this line that needs to be in the hospital working with our communities, which is what we want to do," said Renee Campbell.

In a written statement, ARH's chief negotiator says, "ARH and the KNA/WVA worked through some very difficult issues to reach this tentative agreement, which demonstrates our mutual commitment to both maintaining and enhancing patient care and improving the workplace. This tentative agreement reflects compromises by both parties which were made in the long-term best interests of all stakeholders."

"It's a time of giving and I just hope that it's all settled and I won't have to buy any firewood," Jent said.

An end to the strike could be the greatest Christmas gift both sides could ask for.

Officials say they expect final results of the vote Saturday night.

Statement From ARH Officials

Appalachian Regional Healthcare, Kentucky and West Virginia Nurses Associations Reach Tentative Agreement

December 20, 2007 — After several months of continued negotiations and a nurses’ strike that has lasted nearly three months, Appalachian Regional Healthcare (ARH) and the Kentucky and West Virginia Nurses Associations (KNA/WVNA) early this morning reached a tentative collective bargaining agreement and return to work agreement for the health system’s registered nurses.

Details of the agreement will be kept confidential until the approximately 700 registered nurses represented by the KNA/WVNA and covered under the contract, have the opportunity to vote on the new proposal this weekend.

“Obviously, the last three months have been a difficult time for everyone, but I am happy to report that in this proposed tentative agreement – the Kentucky and West Virginia Nurses Associations remain strong and intact. No nurse is left behind and our issues have been addressed. Ratification voting will be conducted on Friday and Saturday,” said Pat Tanner, chief negotiator for the Kentucky and West Virginia Nurses Associations.

“ARH and the KNA/WVNA worked through some very difficult issues to reach this tentative agreement, which demonstrates our mutual commitment to both maintaining and enhancing patient care and improving the workplace,” said Dan Fitzpatrick, ARH executive director of human resources and labor relations. “This tentative agreement reflects compromises by both parties which were made in the long-term best interests of all stakeholders including the communities we serve, the nurses and all other employees who support the mission and the organization.”