Labor Department Bargaining Unit Updates

Following is a summary of the status of collective bargaining at MNA units, listed by Region.

Region 1 :: Region 2 :: Region 3 :: Region 4 :: Region 5

Region 1

Berkshire Medical Center
The MNA bargaining unit at Berkshire Medical Center continued with the arbitration over medical insurance costs on Jan. 26.

Mercy Hospital
Mercy Hospital has reopened the contract and has begun negotiations. The MNA also had an arbitration award upheld in the first circuit court reinstating a nurse who was terminated without just cause. At this time, management has not further appealed the decision.

Clinton Hospital
Clinton Hospital and the MNA recently settled a two-year contract that included language improvements on equitable distribution of extra shifts. Increases to shift and call differentials were also established, with salary increases of 13 to 16 percent over the two years. A program entitled, “Accepting, Rejecting and Delegating a Work Assignment” will be presented to the bargaining unit on Jan. 18.

Cooley Dickinson Hospital
Began contract negotiations on Dec. 12.

Noble Hospital
Local elections were held on Oct. 20 and the following local representatives were elected: co-chairpersons: Sharon Cygan and Paul Dubin, secretary, Marie Kaleta; treasurer, Sherry Labay; at-large, Norma Hartman-Bessette and Maura Donahue

West Springfield School Nurses
The West Springfield School Nurses are currently negotiating their first MNA contract. The biggest issues for them center on obtaining pay parity with teachers in the school district and addressing professional issues in their contract. The members, in conjunction with their labor director and the MNA’s public communications department, are preparing a PowerPoint presentation to assist in making their argument. The bargaining unit meets almost every week and the nurses are cohesive and energetic.

Region 2

Leicester School Nurses
Continuing to negotiate.

Leominster Hospital
The bargaining unit at Leominster Hospital ratified a three-year agreement on Oct. 14.

UMass Medical Center
The bargaining unit at UMass Medical Center, University Campus continues to negotiate over the Lakeside expansion process and it expects these talks to continue over the next two years. Contract negotiations began on December 21.

Wachusett School Nurses
The Wachusett School Nurses have filed for mediation after coming to an impasse with the school committee over wages.

Region 3

Methuen School Nurses
The Methuen School Nurses conducted an informational picket outside a school committee meeting on Oct. 11. Nurses are meeting with school committee members and mayoral candidates. Patty Comeau recently spoke with reporters from the Boston Globe and Eagle Tribune.

Region 4

Jordan Hospital
Currently in negotiations; after each negotiation session the bargaining committee is posting reports about what transpired in that session.

Region 5

Brigham and Women’s Hospital
At its November Advisory (labor/management) meeting, the MNA committee presented concerns for nurses’ safety on the floors and in the ICUs related to the lack of guidelines for the visitor policy and the ongoing staffing, patient safety and forced overtime issues in the OR.

Caritas Christi Norwood
Currently in negotiations; after each negotiation session the bargaining committee is posting reports about what transpired.

MetroWest Medical Center,
Leonard Morse Hospital
Currently in negotiations; after each negotiation session the bargaining committee is posting reports about what transpired.

New England Medical Center
Numerous staffing concerns have been brought to the MNA committee and they are being addressed in monthly labor/management meetings. Nurses are urged to contact committee members with any issues or concerns they would like addressed. Members of the MNA staff were invited to our bargaining committee meeting and presented information on the Magnet Recognition program. The committee is discussing how this issue will be addressed by the bargaining unit. The MNA was informed that the hospital has changed law firms and will be using a different attorney for the next round of negotiations. The bargaining committee has expressed concern about how this will affect the negotiations—it is hoped that this change will not prolong the process.