Renegotiating pay ??

[wifemamanurse]

I am new at travel nursing. I have completed my first 13 weeks, and I am starting my third week of the next 13 weeks. I had asked to renegotiate my pay before starting this contract. As of yet, I still haven't signed a 2nd contract because my recruiter was working on renegotiating my pay. If I understand correctly, I am able to work under the original contract until a second contract is signed as long as the Hospital is willing to schedule (and they are!) and the agency is willing to pay me.

So, I talk to the recruiter this morning, and she tells me that they can't renegotiate my pay, but she can offer me 50 cents more an hour for my trouble. She also says that she can't do anything about the pay because we are already in contract. I reminded her that I have yet to send my signed contract back. She says something to the effect of my agreeing to complete the next 13 weeks since I remained at the facility and they are still paying me.

My husband was an independant contractor, and the company he worked at went 2 years without a new contract because they couldn't agree on the terms. Either of the companies could have walked at any point until the contract was signed. Is this not the same thing? Since I don't have an actual signed contract with the agency, am I bound for the next 10 weeks?

I had been offered a position with a smaller company that was offering $46 per hour plus 48 cents per mile. I drive 59 miles, so that was a huge amount more. Overtime is $5 more an hour. I am currently paid $19.50/hr + 7.50 for meals and incidentals + $35 per day for housing. It comes out to about $34.10 per hour for 36 hours. My overtime pay is $33 + the 7.50 M/I = $40.50 for hours over 40. I haven't switched companies because they are smaller, and the jobs aren't as plentiful.

For those that have renegotiated your pay to stay at a facility, what is normal for your hourly increase? Is 50 cents normal or a joke? I have talked to one other Traveler about renegotiating pay and he was given $8 an hour more!

Thanks for any advice. I am soooo new to this. I really don't want to mess up with this company, but i also want to get the most pay.