St. Vincent's Strike

Fallon intervenes in the nurses strike

Fallon asks Tenet chairman to enter talks with nurses

Friday, April 28, 2000

By Bronislaus B. Kush
Telegram & Gazette Staff

WORCESTER, Mass.—Fallon Community Health Plan has asked Jeffrey C. Barbakow, chairman of the board and chief executive officer of Tenet Healthcare Corp., to become directly involved in the negotiations between striking nurses and administrators of the Worcester Medical Center.

"The completion of the Worcester Medical Center is the culmination of an extraordinary public-private partnership," said Eric Schultz, president and chief executive officer of Fallon. "It saddens me that this community is unable to celebrate this wonderful accomplishment."

Worcester political leaders said they hope Fallon's disappointment with the lack of progress in settling the 4-week-old nurses' strike will prod Tenet, which owns the new medical center, to quickly resolve the dispute over mandatory overtime and other contract issues.

Mr. Schultz, who appeared at a press conference at City Hall organized by Mayor Raymond V. Mariano, said many Fallon members have expressed concern about the health care provided by Tenet since the nurses walked off the job.

Mr. Schultz declined to say what Fallon will do if Mr. Barbakow balks at becoming more involved.

There are questions, however, as to how much leverage Fallon has in the matter.

About 65 percent of those treated at the Worcester Medical Center are Fallon members. The health plan has contractual obligations that make the medical center the preferred hospital for its members.

Whatever its impact, striking nurses welcomed Fallon's intervention.

"It's very meaningful," said Debra A. Rigiero, co-chairwoman of the nurses' bargaining unit. "Concerns have been raised about the quality of care now being provided, and Fallon realizes that we should be in that hospital helping the patients."

The nurses said that pressure by the public and the City Council may have forced Fallon into action. They said Fallon is also concerned that members of other unions may drop the plan because of the labor strife and the use of replacement nurses at the medical center.

Three of the largest unions in the city—the American Postal Workers Union, the Educational Association of Worcester, and Teamsters Locals 170 and 437—recently threatened to end their contracts with Fallon if the health plan did not lobby for a resolution of the strike.

The unions represent about 7,000 workers.

Ms. Rigiero said no formal attempt has been made to contact Mr. Barbakow. She noted that copies of all correspondence to Robert E. Maher, Worcester Medical Center chief executive officer, have been sent to the Tenet chief.

Additionally, a flier distributed by nurses provides Mr. Barbakow's e-mail address at Tenet headquarters in California.

Mr. Barbakow could not be reached for comment yesterday. Medical center spokeswoman Paula L. Green said he is updated daily on the situation in Worcester.

"He is acutely aware of where things stand," Ms. Green said.

She said Mr. Maher has daily conference calls with top officials at Tenet, including Randy Smith, regional senior vice president, and Steve Corbeil, vice president of the Tenet division that includes the medical center.

Mr. Mariano said that he, U.S. Rep. James P. McGovern, D-Worcester, and members of the local delegation at the Statehouse lobbied Fallon to get involved.

"There are no smiles in the community as a result (of the strike)," the mayor said.

Mr. McGovern said the best way for Tenet to ensure quality health care is to get the striking nurses back to work. He said area residents "are not comfortable with the mercenary nurses" hired by Tenet.

State Rep. John J. Binienda, D-Worcester, speaking on behalf of the state delegation, said the strike, which he described as "a black eye," has gone on too long.

Mr. Schultz said Fallon has a "vested interest" in the matter and said he would send a letter this week to Mr. Barbakow asking him to come to Worcester.

The nurses, who have been negotiating for a first contract for about 30 months, have been on strike since March 31. In response, Tenet has hired 125 replacements to work at the recently opened medical center.

© 2000 Worcester Telegram & Gazette

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