Brockton Talks Show Progress, But Not Enough to Avert a Strike

Nurses Demand More Comprehensive Written Offer Today (May 10).  If None is Forthcoming, Nurses Will Submit 10-Day Notice to Strike

Contract negotiations between registered nurses and management at Brockton Hospital ended yesterday with progress made on key issues, but not enough to stop the nurses from issuing an official 10-day notice to strike today.  That is unless the hospital submits a more comprehensive written proposal today that demonstrates a good faith effort to reach a fair settlement of the outstanding issues in dispute. 

"The hospital moved on Wednesday, but not far enough or fast enough to address our concerns," said Linda McMahon, co-chair of the MNA bargaining unit at Brockton Hospital.  "We are pleased that they have begun to seriously address aspects of our proposal to limit mandatory overtime at the hospital.  But we are disappointed that they have not gone far enough to deal with the problem, and we are very disappointed that they failed to offer any counterproposal on the other key issues in dispute, particularly on our salary."

The nurses' bargaining committee is scheduled to meet with the rank and file membership today at open meetings to review the status of negotiations.  If they receive no further information from the hospital, specifically a written proposal addressing all the key issues left in dispute, the nurses intend to issue their official 10-day notice to strike at the end of the day.  However, they have told the hospital that if they receive an acceptable written offer, they may consider a delay in submitting their strike notice. 

If an acceptable offer is not forthcoming, the nurses will issue their notice this afternoon, which means they would go out on strike on May 25, 2001.  With or without a 10-day notice to strike, both sides agreed to go back to the table on Monday, May 14 to resume negotiations toward a settlement.  The nurses are anxious to reach a settlement to avoid a strike and are hopeful that with continued willingness by management to move on their positions, a settlement can be reached. 

As to the issue of mandatory overtime, the hospital did agree today to limit the number of hours a nurse may work overtime to the 12-hour limit the nurses were seeking.  They also agreed to limit the number of times a nurse could be mandated to 8 times in a calendar year.  However, they continue to refuse to include contract language that holds them accountable to provide safe staffing to prevent mandatory overtime, and they have also not accepted the nurses' language granting the nurse the unrestricted right to refuse mandatory overtime if he or she believes they are too fatigued or ill to provide safe patient care.  The nurses have been clear that they need to have the unrestricted right to refuse mandatory overtime, and the hospital has refused to accept the nurses' contract language or to offer substitute language that is acceptable. 
 

Back to Brockton page