The union representing nurses at Kaiser Permanente ratified today a three-year contract covering 900 Hawaii region employees.

All 28 local unions in the Coalition of Kaiser Permanente Unions, including the Hawaii Nurses’ Association, approved a national agreement affecting 105,000 union workers nationwide. The contract takes effect Oct. 1.

The agreement includes 2 percent wage hikes per year with a 1 percent additional increase in the last month of the contract. The existing national agreement expired Sept. 30.

Retiree medical benefits were also increased, while pension remained in tact, said Maureen Meehan-Golonka, HNA president.

Kaiser’s national trust fund for education also increased by $23.2 million. Locally, that means each nurse will have a $3,000 per year tuition reimbursement, which allows nurses to further their education and training.

“This allows the Hawaii region of Kaiser Permanente nurses to engage and participate collaboratively to ensure the success of our organization,” she said.