A Chicago hospital and its nurses union have agreed on hazard pay for nurses working during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The University of Illinois Hospital and the Illinois Nurses Association announced the agreement Friday.
Depending on assignment, the extra pay ranges from $5 an hour to $15 an hour for registered nurses and from $3.50 an hour to $9 an hour for licensed practical nurses. Nurses on salary also get increases.
The agreement will remain in place until either the Illinois stay-at-home order is lifted or the hospital suspends its internal emergency operations.
Alice Johnson, INA executive director, said in a statement the agreement offers “an immediate way for our members to be compensated for the additional work, stress and risk that they are under.”
Michael Zenn, CEO of the University of Illinois Hospital and Clinics, said nurses are experiencing a "unique burden and risk" and the agreement "is for the good of our entire community.”
