07.02.2001

Talks Between Brockton RNs and Management Break Down Again

Hospital Continues to Refuse to Make Written Commitment to Staff Safety

Management Proposes to Create a Staffing "Advisory Committee" to Meet Twice Each Year With No Authority and No Power to Make Changes to Address Concerns Raised

BROCKTON, Mass.—Talks between Brockton Hospital nurses and management broke down after only two hours today, as the nurses rejected the hospital's half-hearted attempt to address the nurses' key concern over staffing levels at the facility. While the nurses are seeking a written commitment in the contract that the hospital will provide safe and appropriate staffing to avoid mandatory overtime, the hospital today proposed the formation of an "advisory committee" that would meet twice annually. The committee would "not have the authority to modify staffing levels...or to negotiate over terms and conditions of employment."

Before the strike began, the nurses had already told the hospital they had no interest in such a committee. In fact, the nurses and management have had a "professional issues" committee as part of their contract since 1996. Over the last five years, staffing issues had been discussed at nearly every meeting of that committee, with absolutely no effort by the hospital to address the concerns raised. It is precisely because the nurses have been unable to have their concerns addressed through this committee and other avenues that they have gone out on strike to win language that holds the hospital accountable for providing adequate staffing. The hospital's last statement at today's talks was to claim there is no problem with staffing at the facility and that they would never include a contractual commitment to staff the hospital that would subject hospital management to the grievance and arbitration process.

"They expected us to end this strike by accepting a process that has caused this strike," said Barbara Cooke, a member of the negotiating committee and the nurse who has staffed the professional issues committee since 1996. "If we could trust them to staff appropriately, or if we could trust them to work seriously with a committee to address our concerns, we wouldn't be here. This issue here is we can no longer trust their word to provide the staffing our patients deserve. We need them to stand behind their claims, and put their commitment in writing."

The nurses have been seeking the same language to address staffing and mandatory overtime concerns that was negotiated by the nurses at St. Vincent Hospital last year, which ended the nurses 49-day strike. This same language has been accepted by two other Massachusetts hospitals in the last four months. It is the first paragraph of this proposal that is the primary cause of the strike. Specifically, it reads: "The Hospital will reasonably determine the level of registered nurse staffing needed for safe and appropriate care on all nursing units, and will exercise its best efforts to provide that level of staffing through its regular and per diem nursing force without resort to overtime."

Nurses at Brockton Hospital have a long history of problems with management over the issues of staffing and mandatory overtime, i.e. forcing a nurse against her/his will to work extra hours or shifts to compensate for a lack of appropriate staffing. It was the principle issue of concern in their last contract negotiation of 1998. While the hospital had promised to eliminate the problem, the practice continued at an even higher rate. The underlying cause of mandatory overtime is a shortage of staff. The hospital has refused to recruit and retain enough staff to safely operate the facility, while it has dramatically increased its census (patient volume) in recent years. There simply aren't enough nurses hired by the hospital to cover the shifts required to care for the patients being admitted to the facility.

Staffing Contract Language in Dispute

What the Nurses Need to End Their Strike

The Hospital will reasonably determine the level of registered nurse staffing needed for safe and appropriate patient care on all nursing units, and will exercise its best efforts to provide that level of staffing through its regular and per diem nursing force without resort to overtime.

What the Hospital Proposed Today

The Hospital agrees overall nurse staffing, in addition to other factors, is very important in the delivery of care to patients. A joint committee comprised of a total of four members, two members to be selected by the Hospital and two bargaining unit nurses selected by the MNA, will be established. This committee will meet every six months, unless it is mutually agreed to meet less frequently, to review staffing concerns of the nurses as they relate to the delivery of nursing care. The committee shall attempt to address those concerns in a manner consistent with the Hospital's overall policy regarding nurse staffing. The committee shall serve in an advisory capacity and does not have the authority to modify staffing levels or the collective bargaining agreement or to negotiate over terms and conditions of employment. The committee may make recommendations to nursing administration based upon its discussions.