Issue link: https://nnumagazine.uberflip.com/i/117854
Baystate RNs Strike for Fair Contract, Patient Safety MASSACHUSETTS T he registered nurses of Baystate Franklin Medical Center walked out of the hospital at 7 a.m. on Oct. 5 to begin a 24-hour unfair labor practice strike, the first nurses��� strike in the history of the Greenfieldbased hospital. The MNA local bargaining unit of 209 registered nurses has been at the table for 28 sessions over the last year, and during that time Baystate management committed a number of unfair labor practices and has refused to make the necessary compromises to settle an equitable contract. ���Yesterday, we the nurses of Franklin Medical Center took historic action and held a one-day strike,��� said RN and bargaining unit co-chair Donna Stern as the 24-hour event wrapped up. ���We did this to protect our community hospital and the safety of our patients. The strike was very successful because together we got our message out and received tremendous support from the community in response. We will continue this fight until we gain an equitable contract that will guarantee quality and safe patient care at Franklin Medical Center.��� Throughout the strike, the nurses were joined by community and labor supporters, as well as by more than 100 nurses from hospitals across the state who shared the O C TO B E R 2 0 1 2 nurses��� concerns for patient safety. U.S. Rep. John Olver also joined the nurses on the picket line. ���As nurses who care for the patients of Franklin County, we were left no alternative,��� said Linda Judd, RN and bargaining unit co-chair. ���We don���t want to be out of the hospital on strike, but if we were to accept Baystate���s proposals, it would lead to very unsafe situations for our patients.��� Nurses called for the strike in response to Baystate���s unfair labor practices, as well W W W. N A T I O N A L N U R S E S U N I T E D . O R G as to their demands for unreasonable concessions from the nurses, including proposals that will: ��� Strip them of key union rights ��� Increase the dangerous use of overtime to staff the hospital ��� Discipline nurses for using legitimate sick time, thus forcing them to care for patients when they are ill According to Greenfield town councilmember Norm Hirschfield, area residents have been greatly concerned about the effect of Baystate proposals at the negotiating table. ���My constituents are very concerned about patient safety, especially with nurses being forced to work long hours,��� said Hirschfield. ���Another problem is Baystate Health Systems��� misguided policy that forces nurses to come to work sick. With all the long hours, it doesn���t bode well for patient safety in the hospital.��� ���Baystate has taken some very radical positions that would be harmful to quality patient care,��� said Stern. ���And the hospital continues to demand concessions that will cost the nurses thousands of dollars and deeply cut into our ability to negotiate over wages and health insurance. In order to protect the quality of our patient care and the integrity of our union contract, we had to call a strike.��� The nurses returned to the bargaining table on Oct. 25 and the committee is preparing to strike again if no progress is made on that day.���David Schildmeier N AT I O N A L N U R S E 5