Ascension St. Agnes Nurses Ratified Contract
More than 600 Baltimore nurses reached a three-year labor agreement covering pay, staffing, and workplace conditions.
Updated on Sept. 21, 2026 in Nursing Jobs
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Nurses at Ascension St. Agnes Hospital in Baltimore officially ratified their first labor contract on September 19, 2026. The new agreement covers over 600 nursing professionals and spans a three-year period.
Why it matters
The contract marks a significant shift for the hospital staff, addressing long-standing concerns regarding clinical safety and professional working conditions. It establishes formal mechanisms for nurses to participate in staffing decisions and grievance procedures.
The three-year contract provides a 5% to 6% pay increase for the more than 600 nurses. The agreement also formalizes workplace safety and professional standards at the hospital.
The players
Ascension St. Agnes Hospital
This is a major healthcare provider and medical facility located in Baltimore.
The details
The newly ratified contract eliminates mandatory overtime and prohibits the practice of floating nurses to clinical units outside their primary competency. It also creates a professional practice committee and a staffing issues committee to address operational concerns, while implementing clear grievance and arbitration rights.
Timeline
Nurses at the hospital first unionized in 2023.
The contract was ratified by union members on September 19, 2026.
The agreement remains in effect from September 2026 through September 2029.
Market Landscape
This agreement reflects a broader trend of increased labor organization among hospital staff in the Baltimore region. It positions the nursing workforce as a central stakeholder in hospital staffing and safety policy through the establishment of specialized internal committees.
Patients may notice more consistent staffing patterns and lower nurse burnout due to the elimination of mandatory overtime. The new committee structures are intended to improve overall clinical standards and workplace conditions for the hospital staff.
The takeaway
This first contract provides a template for future labor negotiations and internal advocacy at the facility. Nurses are encouraged to review the new grievance procedures and committee participation guidelines to understand their updated workplace rights.
Further reading
Learn more about the local labor market for healthcare workers in the Nursing Jobs section.
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