Local 5082 of the UNAP has been in negotiations with management at Memorial Hospital of RI (MHRI) for a new contract since last May, and the negotiations continue into the New Year. The negotiations present a more complex set of issues than normal. MHRI has been in affiliation talks with Care New England for some time now and the Local wants to make sure that the affiliation and its impact on terms and conditions of employment is fully addressed. In addition, MHRI is looking to freeze the defined benefit pension plan and replace it with a defined contribution plan, which is of major concern to the Local. To date, no agreement has been reached.