We started negotiations this week like we did every other week – ready to talk about staffing. And, like every other week, management refused to negotiate about our most important issue. We expressed concern that management had a goal for falls in 2009 of 218 (there were actually 249 falls that year). We know that it is nearly impossible to prevent every fall. But, as the spouse of one of our team members, who has been a safety manager for 36 years said, “the ultimate goal should be zero, especially for never events. If there are more than zero falls, you should be working diligently to work out why and to make it zero.”
Our staffing ratios are important because we will be able to provide better care and help prevent adverse events like falls. Management’s response to our concerns? “Falls have nothing to do with staffing levels.” When we said that our current contract language about staffing was not sufficient, management said “we couldn’t disagree with you more.” We gave management a modified staffing proposal that really goes to our core issues and is easier for management to understand. We answered all of their questions on this new proposal. Mary asked the nurse managers how they budget for staffing on their units. She also asked them how they feel when they leave the hospital and know that their units are short-staffed. Management’s response? Staffing is just fine.
We also dropped our proposals on expedited arbitration, union leave, and promotions and transfer. We also lowered our wage proposal. Management came back with the same set of proposals that they gave us last week. We cannot accept management’s proposals. They move our profession backwards and do nothing to address the concerns of staff nurses. If we stand united, we can win a good contract that moves our profession and patient care forward.
REMINDER! All RN meetings Monday May 17. 7:45 am, 1:30 pm, 3:45 pm, and 6pm. In the Methodist Auditorium.