Unit 7 reaches tentative agreement on new contract

Dear Unit 7 colleagues and fellow MNA members,

After 1,046 days without a contract, the MNA’s Unit 7 bargaining unit has reached a tentative agreement with the state.

It has been a long bumpy road to agreement—but your negotiating committee kept their eyes on an equitable contract, and they persevered.
We feel that this tentative agreement meets the priorities that you—the members—had set and/or supported, and we appreciate your involvement throughout this arduous process.

By now all Unit 7 members should have received a letter and a copy of the tentative agreement for review, as well as a ballot specific to the ratification vote. In addition, we will hold unit meetings to explain and discuss the agreement.
If you have questions or concerns relating to the tentative agreement between now and then, please don’t hesitate to contact your bargaining unit representative or an appropriate labor director at the MNA. Until then, congratulations on a job well done.

In solidarity,

The Unit 7 Executive Board
Michael D’Intinosanto, RN, Templeton Developmental Center
Cathy Evlog, RN, Secretary, Chelsea Soldiers Home
Marty McNamara, RN, Treasurer, Tewksbury Hospital
Pat O'Neill, RN, Quincy Mental Health Center
Carolyn Moss, RN, Quincy Mental Health Center
Steve Robins, PT, Lemuel Shattuck Hospital
Ellen Farley, RN, Taunton State Hospital
Thomas Martin, Tewksbury Hospital
Beth Gray-Nix, OT, Fernald Developmental Center
Karen Coughlin, RN, Taunton State Hospital
Jesse Hill, RN, Taunton State Hospital
Mike McCarthy, RN, Taunton State Hospital
Carol Kleindienst, RN, Worcester State Hospital
David Morin, MD, Tewksbury Hospital
Charlie Palmer, RN, Tewksbury Hospital

Caritas Norwood Hospital
The registered nurses at Caritas Norwood Hospital overwhelmingly ratified a two-year contract with the biggest turnout in bargaining unit history. The new contract includes the following:

• A 4 percent across-the-board increase in year one of the contract with a new 4 percent top step; 4.5 percent increase in year two with a restructured wage scale (4.25 percent between steps) and a new 4.25 percent top step.
• Successor protection language
• Health and safety language
• Paid release time for labor/management meetings
• Mandatory overtime limited to two hours beyond a nurse’s shift
• Increased degree, night shift and weekend differentials
• Significant improvements for per diem RNs
• A new “professional activities fund” for conferences, seminars and re-certification
• Improvements in tuition reimbursement
• A new insurance advisory committee 

NEMC
The committee was delighted with the overwhelming response to the surveys and it will be finalizing the proposal package soon. It is anticipated that negotiations will begin in August or September. Staffing issues continue to be a concern and the committee is frequently meeting and communicating with the management team to try to improve the situation. Nurses willing to serve as liaisons between the committee and the nursing units are asked to contact the committee prior to the start of negotiations so that improved communication will keep bargaining unit members informed after each negotiation session.

The NEMC nursing department and the MNA bargaining committee would also like to thank everyone who was involved in making its March CE program a success. The program—which focused on peer assistance for nurses who are struggling with substance abuse issues—served as an educational, social and unity-building opportunity for participants. Photos from the event are pictured below.

MetroWest Medical Center
The RNs at MetroWest Medical Center (Leonard Morse campus) overwhelmingly ratified their tenative agreement on June 14. Under the new agreement two new 3.5 percent steps are added to the wage scale over two years and two months, as well as across-the-board increases totaling 10 percent and a restructured wage scale with 3.5 percent between steps. Other changes include: medical insurance employee contribution percentages are fixed for the life of the contract; annual step increases will occur in the pay period closest to July 1 every year; and bargaining unit seniority will be added to the contract.

Brigham and Women's Hospital
The MNA Committee has met to review the proposal surveys and a proposal package has been finalized for negotiations, which will begin July 13. Advisory meetings continue to focus on staffing and safety issues for nurses and patients. The MNA has issued demand-to-bargain letters to the hospital concerning the new nursing assessment tool and the new CWN call-light system. Four grievances have been filed to arbitration with several more anticipated.