08.25.2004

A five-year plan for the future: How the dues increase will be used

As reported in the last issue of the Massachusetts Nurse, the Board of Directors, with input and support from members, bargaining units and other structural units, has created a five-year plan with a number of important objectives, including:

• Enhancing service, effectiveness, support and internal organizing of local bargaining units by establishing the best staff to bargaining unit ratio of any nurses' union in the country.
  
• Fostering strong leadership within the bargaining units through the creation of a first-rate Leadership Institute, featuring ongoing and comprehensive continuing education.
  
• Expanding the power of unionized nurses by "organizing the unorganized" in Massachusetts and throughout New England, thus adding clout, not only in local contract negotiations, but also by expanding our powerbase within the greater labor movement, on Beacon Hill and on Capitol Hill.
  
• As the nursing community ages, the MNA is committed to protecting the long-term security of its members through an intensive program that provides the organizational resources needed to secure longoverdue retiree health and pension benefits for nurses.
  
• Protecting the health and safety of nurses through continued expansion and development of the MNA's occupational health and safety department, including expanded continuing education programming, online education, local bargaining unit education and support, for regional and national initiatives.
  
• Creating a statewide force of nurses involved in the political process on health care issues, including increased grassroots organizing on the regional level and efforts to build strong alliances and coalitions with non-nurse community, labor and political organizations.
  
• Establishing a real political presence in New England and in Washington, D.C. through further development of regional and national nursing organizations, e.g. the American Association of Registered Nurses and the New England Nurses Association.
  
• Making the MNA the primary resource for improving and protecting nursing practice through increased education, outreach and MNA-generated research to underpin MNA positions and concerns.
  
• Improving and amplifying MNA's internal and external communcations through expansion of its local, regional and national media relations program; expansion of MNA’s Web site; providing an internet presence for local bargaining units and improved communications among members through the creation of member e-mail systems, bulletin boards and chat rooms; and virtual meeting capabilities.
  
• Bringing the MNA to the membership and to nurses throughout the state with an MNA vehicle designed to support on-site hospital visits for MNA staff to educate members about key benefits of membership; to conduct local bargaining unit cell phone banking programs to legislators and policy makers; to conduct blood pressure screenings and other high visibility events in the community to promote nursing and nursing issues; to serve as a place for nonunion nurses to meet with staff locally to discuss opportunities for organizing; and to travel to nursing schools to make it easy for nursing students to meet with MNA staff and to discuss the benefits of MNA membership.