Bargaining Unit Updates

North Adams Regional Hospital After five months of negotiations there seems to be no resolution in sight at North Adams Regional Hospital. Management representatives came to the table with a long list of takeaways, both in terms of economics and language. While they have removed some, they are still attempting to end—or drastically curtail—the pension plan and they want to be given the ability to gut the health insurance without negotiations with the union. The nurses have been turning up the heat on management. They have formed an action committee; leafleted the hospital and other local locations; sent post cards to board of directors; put out a press release that got great local coverage; distributed yard signs; are planning to erect a billboard; and will be placing advertisements at key internal and external events.

Baystate VNA and Hospice/Greenfield Office
After three years of negotiations for an initial contract, the nurses are close but still have a ways to go. While much of the language in the first contract has been settled management still has not made a comprehensive economic proposal. Over the past few months the nurses have set up yard signs, written letters to the editor and leafleted the local communities and they have spent much of their spare time getting signatures on a petition of support. In late June they are planning to have a rally in downtown Greenfield where they will deliver the thousands of signatures to management.

Berkshire Medical Center
Negotiations have begun at the Berkshire Medical Center. After sending out questionnaires and polling the members, the committee feels confident it has an equitable contract proposal that will keep quality health care in Western Massachusetts. Among the proposals the nurses put forward are a competitive wage increase, a retiree health insurance plan and an improved retirement plan.

Providence Hospital
Members of the newly formed Technology Committee joined with their brothers and sisters from Mercy to meet and discuss plans for the upcoming changes, including the installation of the Kronos swipe time and attendance system. For more information, see story above.

Worcester School Nurses
The Worcester School Nurses have filed and unfair labor practice charge against the Worcester School Committee for their failure to bargain in good faith. Additionally, the parties are now in mediation.

Mercy Hospital
Mercy Hospital hosted its second open membership luncheon, which brought together a number of members from a variety of units and shifts. Three additional unit representatives stepped forward that day and Diane Scherrer also gave a legislative update with a focus on the safe staffing bill. Three RNs, who are also MNA representatives, were recognized for receiving their BSN degrees from Elms College. They were Kathleen Earney-Will, Kathleen Mcllelan and Brenda Pilachowski. Additionally, 25 RNs were recognized for their efforts during a fire on a medical/surgical unit during a Saturday night shift.

West Springfield School Nurses
The bargaining unit said goodbye and thank you to Gayle Hylen who recently retired. Hylen was one of the original nurses who helped organize the group with the MNA and she served as local co-chairperson and member of the negotiating team fighting for professional parity for the group.

Wachusett Regional School District Nurses
After only three negotiation sessions and in the midst if their fight for a professional pay scale, management handed the bargaining unit a salary proposal that resulted in a $12,000 salary cut between years five and six of the contract. In response, the nurses have started collecting signatures on a petition that announces the public’s support of the bargaining unit. They are also slated to bring their case directly to the school committee during a July meeting.

North Shore Medical Center/Salem Hospital
A tentative agreement has been reached at North Shore Medical Center/Salem Hospital. After five months of long, hard negotiations the committee voted to approve and endorse the agreement and present it to the membership for approval. The committee feels very positive because it was able to make some economic and language gains and fight off some takeaways management had on the table. Details will be announced after the ratification vote.

Faulkner Hospital
The nurses at Faulkner Hospital recently overwhelming rejected a contract settlement proposal put forward by management. The committee presented the proposal, without a recommendation, and the nurses responded with an absolute answer: No. The primary issue is the so called “Fair Plan.” Under this misguided proposal, seniority would play no role in assigning holiday and vacation time. Negotiations are resuming with the expectation that management will have heard the message from the members.