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09.27.2006
Nurses recommend Patrick/Murray
The Massachusetts Nurses Association PAC and its Board
of Directors have recommended and endorsed Deval Patrick for Governor
and Tim Murray for Lt. Governor.
On November 7th Massachusetts voters will elect a new
Governor and Lt. Governor. This election is critical to front-line
staff nurses.
The next Governor:
- will have the power to sign into law or veto the safe RN staffing
bill,
- holds tremendous influence and power in the appointment of
key positions in government that impact nursing and health care:
commissioner of the department of public health, members of the
board of registration in nursing, and key health care policy makers,
- is the employer of nearly 2,000 registered nurses and health
care professionals working in our state health and human services
system. Under the Romney/Healey Administration this unit has gone
3-years without a contract, and has had to fight back constant
efforts to dramatically increase their health insurance premium
contributions, alter their pension and dismantle their collective
bargaining rights and benefits.
Deval Patrick and Worcester Mayor Tim Murray bring a new approach
and new ideas to Massachusetts state government. Deval Patrick supports
the House passed redrafted safe RN staffing bill. The Romney/Healey
Administration issued a statement of opposition during the House
debate and candidate Healey refused to answer an MNA questionnaire
or attend the MNA interview.
Deval Patrick on the House passed redrafted safe RN staffing
bill:
“I supported this compromise – and conveyed this support
in a number of public forums. Though that compromise did not move
in the Senate, I look forward to working with the MNA, legislators
and others to revive it.”
Deval Patrick on patient safety and nursing care:
“My conversations with the Board and other members of the
MNA, my own research, and my family’s experience have convinced
me of the need to address the staffing crisis confronting nurses
and their patients. As I stated in my MNA questionnaire, “‘Recent
patient care studies highlight how nurse understaffing leads to
increased rates of error, complications, lengths of stay and readmissions.
I believe hospitals and their nursing staffs should work toward
the best staffing ratios to serve patient needs.’”
Tim Murray: A Friend of Nurses
Worcester Mayor Tim Murray has strong record of support for working
people, for organized labor and for quality health and human services
for the city of Worcester. Mayor Murray has consistently advocated
for the concerns of nurses and their patients. The nurses of St.
Vincent Hospital have long admired Tim Murray since his days as
a City Councilor when he regularly walked the picket line with the
striking nurses and for his ongoing support for improved staffing
and working conditions for nurses. In addition, Murray has been
a strong voice for nursing care and patient safety issues at the
Worcester area hospitals and worked to reach a fair contract for
the Worcester Public School Nurses. We have consistently been able
to turn to Mayor Murray for support and understanding of the issues
that nurses and patients face
Healey plans target MNA members and their patients
Lt. Governor Healey recently unveiled her 50-point plan for Massachusetts.
In that plan are several items targeted at MNA Unit 7 registered
nurses and health care professionals including dramatic increases
in state employee health insurance premiums, and elimination of
the defined benefit pension system. Under the Romney/Healey Administration
this unit has gone 3-years without a contract.
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