UMass Medical Center & Nurses Settle

After a five hour strike Thursday, nurses at the University of Massachusetts Memorial Medical Center in Worcester and hospital officials have reached a tentative contract agreement.

Replacement nurses treated patients during the strike.

The agreement calls for a five percent annual step increase in raises and cost of living adjustments. The nurses will pay five percent more for health benefits. The agreement maintains the current defined pension benefits and offers a choice of pension benefits for newly hired nurses.