Roger Hannigan Gilson is reporting in the Register-Star Columbia Memorial Hospital and the union representing its employees signed a new contract Tue., Apr. 5. In January, Columbia Memorial and Albany Medical Center announced an affiliation between the two hospitals, which would integrate clinical and administrative functions. The contract agreed to this week between the 1199 Service Employees International Union United Healthcare Workers East included a clause specifically protecting union jobs during mergers, acquisitions or affiliations, and also protects jobs from being subcontracted out for a period of 18 months. The contract is retroactive to the beginning of 2016, and will expire at the end of 2019. The union represents 207 registered nurses and 612 other employees at Columbia Memorial. Read the full story in the Register-Star.