St.
E's nurses may plan to protest
June 12, 2003
MARRECCA
FIORE
Observer-Dispatch
UTICA
-- Registered nurses from St. Elizabeth Medical
Center plan to conduct public protests and job actions
should contract negotiations not be resolved at the
end of this month, the state nurse's association said
this week.
At
issue in the negotiations is inadequate staffing, high
workload and turnover rates, excessive overtime, a frequently
changing health insurance plan and inadequate retirement
benefits, a union official said.
"We
always try to resolve things at the table. That's the
first step," said Mark Genovese at the New York
State Nurses Association. "The second step is we
put some pressure on management with some informational
picketing and protesting right in their front yard.
... The last resort is we'll take a vote to strike.
... We're not at that point yet."
Other
sticking points in the contract negotiations include
proposed ratios the nurses have made to ensure a safe
level of RN-to-patient staffing.
"We
estimate we are about 25 to 35 RNs short of what we
need," Genovese said.
St.
Elizabeth faxed the following statement to the Observer-Dispatch
Wednesday:
"We
are in active negotiations with NYSNA and we look forward
to a positive outcome in the near future. We will continue
to negotiate in good faith. St. Elizabeth continues
to provide the highest quality of care and has the utmost
confidence and respect for its staff."
Conditions
at St. Elizabeth must improve so the hospital can attract
and retain staff, a nursing representative said.
"Nurses
cannot work in an environment as difficult as this until
they're eligible for retirement at age 65," said
Marilyn Scott, RN, the nursing representative for the
nursing association.
Last
year, nurses from Heritage Health Care Center threatened
to strike after complaining about inadequate staffing
and long hours. The strike was averted, however. Nationwide,
nursing shortages are plaguing hospitals and nursing
homes alike.
The
St. Elizabeth nurses' current contract expires June
30. Union and hospital officials plan to continue negotiations
during sessions scheduled for three consecutive Fridays
beginning this week.
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