Sep 30, 2006 By The 1 min read

After five months of collective bargaining involving 19 separate face-to-face negotiating sessions covering many difficult and sensitive areas of concern, the Uniontown Hospital and Teamsters Local 491 have reached an agreement for a five-year contract covering some 450 employees in service, maintenance and clerical positions. The agreement was ratified on Thursday.

Both parties have been operating under a contract extension since the expiration of the former agreement on June 30.

According to a joint statement released by both parties, the agreement provides for wage increases as well as improvements in health and welfare and retirement plans, plus a number of additional provisions covering non-economic issues.

In the joint statement, which was released Friday, hospital and union officials said that they were both pleased with the contract, which is fair and reasonable for all parties.

Neither hospital nor union officials had further comment.