Nurses at Butler Memorial Hospital and the hospital's administration have agreed on a contract extension.

The 330 members of the Pennsylvania Association of Staff Nurses and Allied Professionals, PASNAP, on Thursday ratified a three-year extension with the hospital.

The extension was approved by 82 percent of the union's members who voted.

John Righetti, Butler Health System spokesman, said this is an early agreement because the nurses' current contract does not expire until April 15, 2008.

The extension carries the contract through April 16, 2011.

The extension includes: a ratification bonus of $300 for each nurse; wage increases of 5 percent on April 16, 2008; 4 percent on April 16, 2009; and 5 percent on April 16, 2010; "very reasonable, limited increases" to health care insurance premiums; and increased shift, weekend and on-call differential.

According to a hospital news release, Bill Cruice, PASNAP executive director, said the union is pleased with the extension.

He said the agreement "recognizes their vital contribution to this community."

Ken DeFurio, health system president and chief executive officer, echoed Cruice's sentiments. "Our relationship with our nurses' union is extremely important and has continued to develop for the good of our hospital and our patients," DeFurio said in the news release. "We look forward now to working together to develop a new hospital that will benefit our patients, our nurses, staff and the entire community."