CHARLESTON – Three hundred union members will work under a new contract at the South Williamson Appalachian Regional Healthcare facility that was ratified this week.

Union Local President Ricky Wilkerson says members of the United Steelworkers have ratified a new three-year contract with the nonprofit health system.

The vote at the South Williamson hospital was the closest in the system, Wilkerson said, with the contract passing by the narrow margin of 105 to 101.

The contract ratified Tuesday covers more than 2,300 union workers in a variety of occupations, including clerical, housekeeping, maintenance, dietary, nursing, laboratory, respiratory, and radiology.

The contract is effective April 1.

Sticking points union members took issue with included the waiting period after hire before union scale wages were paid, Wilkerson explained. Although employees will receive benefits after a ten week probationary period, they will not receive standard pay until they have been employed five years.

While some union members may not be pleased with the new contract, Wilkerson said “Members have OK’d this, we have to move on.”

“I thank God for the officers and members who fought for our benefits we enjoy today,” Wilkerson said.

Appalachian Regional Healthcare operates nine hospitals in West Virginia and Kentucky. The health system also operates physician practices, home health agencies, HomeCare Stores and retail pharmacies.