Methodist Bargaining Update (April 29) (Page 137)

From MNA Bargaining Team Member Lori Christian, RN

Today, we presented our proposals on health insurance, salary, and protecting union work.

Throughout these negotiations, management’s chief spokesman has said repeatedly that there is no analytical data that better nurse to patient ratios improve care.  We presented them with a study released this month which shows that “lower ratios are associated with significantly lower mortality…nurses’ burnout and job dissatisfaction were lower, and nurses reported consistently better quality of care.”

We continue to talk about the importance of safe staffing, but our concerns fall on deaf ears.

On March 25, we asked the hospital to provide data so that we could fully respond to and evaluate their proposals.  Today, on April 29, we are still waiting for the appropriate data.  They have been dilly-dallying with vital information – what are they waiting for?

We also discussed a few of management’s proposals, including their proposal on instituting a probationary period.  Management wants to be able to fire a nurse without “just cause” within the first 90 days of employment.  We told management that the current system of orientation does not always work properly – it is not consistent, does not provide timely feedback, and does not give new nurses the proper support.  Nurses should be mentored in their first months at the hospital, not unjustly terminated.

Just a reminder to all RNs: sign up for informational picketing on May 12th at Fairview Southdale. We need to send a strong message that nurses intend on moving our profession forward and improving patient care.

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From MNA Bargaining Team Member Lori Christian, RN

Today, we presented our proposals on health insurance, salary, and protecting union work.

Throughout these negotiations, management’s chief spokesman has said repeatedly that there is no analytical data that better nurse to patient ratios improve care.  We presented them with a study released this month which shows that “lower ratios are associated with significantly lower mortality…nurses’ burnout and job dissatisfaction were lower, and nurses reported consistently better quality of care.”

We continue to talk about the importance of safe staffing, but our concerns fall on deaf ears.
… Read more about: Methodist Bargaining Update (April 29)  »

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From MNA Bargaining Team Member Kevin Campbell , RNC, Fairview Riverside

Today, we continued the dance of immobility. Management continues to ignore discussing topics important to staffing, patient safety and the MNA insurance plan. Your team continues to struggle with getting the hospitals to see that we are very serious about our proposals and very serious about safe patient care. Again we heard the mantra of being stewards of a shrinking revenue source and needing to have everything equal among all employees. (Except maybe the CEO!)

The hospital did present our team with a trio of options, all of which required your team to concede several major issues, while the hospital would give up one or two smaller issues.
… Read more about: Fairview Bargaining Update  »

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From your MNA Allina Bargaining Team:

Today at bargaining, we asked the employer to be clear on their proposals.  We focused on their proposals on floating, work agreements, layoff (and seniority as it pertains to layoffs), low need language, the Baylor Program, Unit Closure Language, and Nursing Practice, Staffing Advisory, and other committees.

We told management that they have not made a convincing case on any of their proposals. We asked them why the need for the change?  Why tear down what both sides have worked on collaboratively for forty some years?  Management could not answer our questions. 
… Read more about: Allina Bargaining Update  »

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The morning started out with unexpected and pleasant welcome from RNs from St Joe’s, who brought the bargaining team coffee and muffins. Thanks so much to the RNs from Joe’s who showed us their support!

Today in bargaining we engaged management around several proposals. We started out the day listening to a presentation from Management’s financial people. They told us how poor HealthEast is and how much trouble they might be in in ten years. It seemed like the same old song and dance to me. How long has HealthEast been telling us they don’t have money? Kinda reminds me of “The boy who cried wolf.” They then told us they only made $2.9 million dollars in 2009.
… Read more about: HealthEast Bargaining Update (April 27)  »