Nurses at Martha’s Vineyard Hospital say they intend to authorize a one-day strike if they do not receive fair compensation from the owner of the Island hospital.
The Massachusetts Nurses Association — the largest nurses’ union in the state, representing roughly 100 registered nurses on the Island — released a statement Thursday saying that they voted overwhelmingly on a “potential one-day strike” following months of negotiations and a refusal from the hospital’s owner, Mass General Brigham, to invest adequately in permanent nurses, instead relying on traveling nurses.
“Mass General Brigham is treating nurses unequally throughout the system, leading to staffing issues for permanent nurses at Martha’s Vineyard Hospital, and prompting us to take a strike authorization vote to secure a fair contract and protect patient care,” Laura Hilliard, a registered nurse at the Island hospital, and Massachusetts Nurses Association chair, said in a statement. “We are passionate about caring for our Island’s patients, and will fight for the resources we need to provide safe, high-quality care to the community we serve.”
The union and the hospital have been in contract negotiations since the spring.
The union lists a number of complaints in its statement, including that uncompetitive wages coupled with the high cost of living on the Vineyard have increased permanent staffing shortfalls, and “put the health of nurses and patients at risk.”
In their contract negotiations, nurses are seeking improved health insurance costs.
A hospital spokesperson said they have completed 10 bargaining sessions to date with the nurses’ union, and have offered “considerable” wage increases.
“We have also discussed the high cost of living on Martha’s Vineyard, and the impact it has on all of our employees, including nurses,” a spokesperson for Martha’s Vineyard Hospital said. “We return to the bargaining table next week, and our focus remains on continuing the negotiation process while providing high-quality, safe care for our patients.
“If a strike does take place as the union indicated, we are prepared to provide the care our patients expect without interruption,” the statement concluded.
The union says that a date for a strike has not been scheduled. If a day is scheduled, the union said, it would give the hospital a 10-day notice.
The union said that the existing group of approximately 66 unionized hospital nurses were joined in the strike authorization vote by 35 ambulatory-care nurses who voted to join the MNA in July.
IIRC, the Massachusetts Nurses Association represents mainly (only) RNs (registered nurses). Where are the LPNs (licensed practical nurses) in all this? They usually get treated even worse than the RNs.
And doesn’t that sign say it all? “Mass General Brigham” in great big letters and “Martha’s Vineyard Hospital” in much smaller type below it.
PAY. THEM!!!
How much?
How much more will you pay for health care and taxes.
It’s time to be able to drive on/off the island.
Access to greater services and more housing.
You mean like a bridge?
You mean like Manhattan?
the nurses at the hospital are GREAT: pay them more and give them extra pay for high cost of living on MV. they do a great job and should be paid well.
Susana LPN’s are covered by a separate union at the hospital.
Pay them 100k to start with 6 weeks off, hazard pay bonuses and free housing. It’s only fair. We can afford it. We are the richest country on earth.
A 100k a year to start with 12 weeks off is a GED required wind farm job.
No blood, mucus, stool matter, or infectious diseases.
Not having to watch people die.
We can afford it. We are the richest country on earth.
And the richest Island in the US.
Comments are closed.