09.27.2006

UMass University RNs Vote in Favor of Strike Authorization

The registered nurses of the UMass Medical Center, University Campus (UMMC)
voted overwhelmingly tonight to authorize their union leadership to call a strike
if necessary in their ongoing negotiations with hospital management. In a
unified show of strength, 762 nurses cast ballots, with the nurses voting
716 to 46 In favor of the strike authorization.

"The turnout for this vote was incredible," said Kathie Logan, RN, a nurse at
UMMC and chairperson of the bargaining unit. "The results send a powerful
message to the hospital that our nurses are firmly committed to their positions
in this negotiation and we will not allow management to take away every benefit
that makes it worthwhile to work here."

After posting $100 million in profits over the last 18 months, the hospital is
demanding a number of significant concessions—concessions the nurses believe
compromise their ability to retain and recruit staff needed to deliver quality
patient care at the region's only level one trauma center. Key issues in
dispute include management's demand to delete the nurses' defined benefit
pension plan, dramatically increase health insurance costs, cut nurses' personal
time and reduce family medical leave benefits. The hospital's concessions would
cost most nurses up to $8,000 a year in lost wages and benefits.

The nurses' pension is a benefit guaranteed to them under the law that allowed
the privatization of UMMC in 1997. The proposed change in pension benefits
represents a 35 percent cut in retirement savings and a potential loss of as
much as $104,000 for many nurses.

According to Logan, "If the hospital has its way, patients will suffer as many
of the most qualified and experienced nurses would leave for Boston, where they
can be paid as much as $8 per hour more, with better benefits.

The strike authorization vote does not mean the nurses would be calling for a
strike immediately. The vote authorizes the negotiating committee too call a
strike at such time as they feel it is necessary. Should the committee decide
to issue an official notice to strike, the hospital will have 10 days before the
nurses walk off the job. The nurses and management will resume negotiations
tomorrow, Sept. 28, with another session scheduled for Oct. 2, 2006.

The 830 nurses of UMMC, University Campus, who are represented by the
Massachusetts Nurses Association, began negotiations last December. More than
20 negotiating sessions have been held to date, with the last several involving
a federal mediator.