NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Northern Berkshire Healthcare has approached the registered nurses at North Adams Regional Hospital to reopen their contract to negotiate changes in an effort to save $465,000 health-care officials say is necessary to avoid layoffs.
The nurses, represented by the Massachusetts Nurses Association voted on Jan. 2 to reject the request, citing the late date on which the hospital provided them a proposal.
The health-care system has been struggling for several years to overcome financial losses. While its bond rating was boosted earlier this year and it ended 2007 barely in the black, officials say the financial crisis and decreasing revenues are putting in a bind.
The last two years, the hospital has been dependent upon a $4 million grant given to community health providers; applications for that grant were due in mid-December. The health-care system is also trying to cut costs by divesting itself of Sweetwood Retirement Care Community.
It recently purchased the former Northern Berkshire Family Practice with hopes of expanding the number of general practitioners in the area through federal grants.
NBH is trying to cut $4.5 million from its budget.
Below are the statements from both the MNA and NBH in full. They have been edited only for style, spelling and grammar.
Nurses Won't Be Rushed Into Concessions
'We are Dedicated to Working with the Hospital to Resolve their Financial Crisis'
The registered nurses of North Adams Regional Hospital voted today not to reopen negotiations on their collective bargaining agreement. "The hospital made it clear that they want to rush these negotiations and the only solutions they have come up with are severe concessions," said bargaining unit Chairwoman Ruth O'Hearn, a registered nurse.
The hospital raised the possibility of reopening negotiations in early November and then for the next six weeks said nothing. On Dec. 22, management informed the Massachusetts Nurses Association bargaining unit that they needed to know by Jan. 2, 2009, if the nurses would participate in concession negotiations, which must be completed within two weeks.
The nurses did not receive a concession proposal until Wednesday, Dec. 24. Obviously, there were logistical problems with two major holidays in this period and many nurses are out of town or on vacation. But, according to O'Hearn, there are more serious problems. "First we didn't get their proposals until Dec. 24 and they are offering very little time to discuss and review these concession demands with our members," she said. "If the hospital was aware of possible financial problems almost two months ago, why wouldn't they have offered to sit down with us at that point?"
The proposal the hospital put forward includes cutting a previously negotiated pay raise scheduled for April 1 and troublesome language changes on overtime and differentials that the nurses have gained over many years of hard-fought contract negotiations.
"We continue to be dedicated to providing the highest quality care to our patients and doing our part at the bedside. We are also dedicated to the hospital and want to see its continued fiscal viability. We live and work in this community. This is our hospital, but we will not be threatened and pushed by management. We are dedicated to working with the hospital to resolve their financial crisis," said O'Hearn.
For the original release posted on the MNA Web site, click here.
Massachusetts Nurses Association Declines to Open NARH Contract
The community trustees and leaders of Northern Berkshire Healthcare had been hopeful that the Massachusetts Nurse Association would work together with them to meet twin goals: responding to the economic crisis and preserving jobs.
We were disappointed to learn that MNA members voted down our request to open their contract. Northern Berkshire Healthcare proposed contract changes that would have helped the hospital save $467,000 without implementing a layoff.
North Adams Regional Hospital is among the 74 percent of hospitals nationwide, according to one survey, that have acted in response to the crisis state of the economy. Like other hospitals surveyed, NARH is affected by:
* Reductions in Medicaid payments. * A decline in the value of pension investments. This will require NBH to pay an additional $1.2 million to cover pensions promised to employees and retirees. * Decreasing numbers of admissions as more Americans delay care either for fear of losing their jobs because of absence or a desire to save money in the face of current and anticipated economic challenges. * Fewer patients seeking elective procedures, and therefore lower revenue. * Increasing numbers of uninsured patients.
Given these challenges, NBH has been working on a plan to reduce its expense budget by $4.5 million.
The request to open the MNA contract was one part of that plan. The proposal to save more than $460,000 while keeping people employed included requests such as paying for overtime after 40 hours worked. This is consistent with federal labor law for individuals who receive weekly paychecks. The MNA contract requires overtime both after 8 and 40 hours, in excess of federal requirements.
Another contract change proposed would allow the hospital to use part-time staff first and then, if necessary, per diem staff to replace hours for nurses who are sick or on vacation. This change would avoid expensive overtime pay.
Following the principles of shared sacrifice and job preservation, NBH has already identified more than $3 million in savings. The savings include:
* Freezing open positions for a savings of $1 million. * The executive management team agreeing to forego any merit pay increases, while merit increases for other managers and non-union employees were reduced from 4 percent to 2 percent. * Reducing travel and education costs and trimming supply budgets.
The value of the contract changes NBH sought represents only 10 percent of the $4.5 million savings goal. The cost of MNA wages and benefits totals 18 percent of the hospital's budget.
The changes that will be implemented and those proposed to the MNA are needed to reduce operating costs to be more consistent with other small health-care organizations that receive the majority of payments for services provided to patients from public funding sources such as Medicare and Medicaid.
Reimbursement from these public sources generally does not cover the cost of the care provided. And, at NARH, more than 60 percent of reimbursement comes from these sources.
Further, as an organization committed to serving all of those who live in our community who have emergent needs, we provide care irrespective of an individual's ability to pay. As the economy has weakened, more patients have been receiving care for free.
Given these realities, we must assure that our pay and benefit practices are fair and competitive while eliminating excessive benefits.
"We are proud of the high-quality staff who work throughout the NBH family," said Richard Palmisano, president and CEO of NBH and a registered nurse. "We will assure that our staff receives competitive wages and benefits. Unfortunately, legacy costs from old contracts cannot be maintained into the future."
He added, "We remain hopeful that MNA members will reconsider when the full magnitude of the repercussions of their decision not to negotiate are known."
NBH statement released by Dianne M. Cutillo, vice president of external affairs
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How come the nurses have to take the hit. Why don't the hospital's over payed brass take a hit. Eliminate some for there jobs and take away the cars that they use, that the hospital provides to them for personal use. The hospital is just like any other big business, to many bosses and not enough Indians. So hit the people were it hurts right in the wallet. Stand tall and stand your ground together, don't give in to them. Because if you do they will take away more and more.
I'm sure other employees will take their share of the hits as well as the nurses' share. The nurses aren't the only ones who deal with patients. There are ancillary services as well.
The union said their wasn't enough time to really deliberate this because of the holidays and nurses being off but the union was able to vote down re-opening the contracts...how many nurses voted?
in these tough fiscal times the hospital has not
demonstrated wise spending....their recent acquisition of northern berkshire family practice
and their inability to keep a full census at either sweetbrook or sweet wood are two such wxamples. to think the nurses would give up wages after they already gave up their pensions is asking way too much.
This vote by the MNA is despicable. The hospital has been able to find more than three million dollars without asking anything of the union. I feel that the entire process has been open, the hospital asked everyone to participate and even posted their progress for everyone to see. The MNA thumbs their nose at all other hospital employees refusing to give up anything (just like the auto makers who are on the brink of bankrupcy). Do they really care about having a viable hospital in the community? It's clear that the MNA doesn't care about saving jobs at all!
why does anyone have to 'take a hit', has anyone been following the news for the last 6 months? The world is in an economic recession. I'd rather lose my raise then lose my job, the lesser of two evils.
The hospital has managed to purchased Northern Berkshire Family Practice as well as continue major renovations of the entire hospital (3rd North is currently being completely remodeled) as well as the addition of a brand new medication system but they can't afford to stay afloat?
The nurses have already taken a hit with their pension, now they are expected to give up their raises and overtime pay.
Any benefits the nurses received in their contracts have been hard earned. Everyday I see a devoted group of nurses who work tirelessly for the good of their patients. They don't take time for breaks, sometimes manage to get 5 minutes for a meal that they are docked 1/2 hour for and then are hounded to finish their shift on time because overtime will not be approved.
The nurses have given too much already, they shouldn't be responsible for the hospital's out of control spending.
I'm going to assume that you haven't been aware of the current financial climate of the entire United States (at least I can only hope that you are ignorant out of lack of knowledge). All hospitals are facing the same financial woes that NBH is facing. The stock market has presented a number of problems for all businesses (and YES, the hospital is a business...I know this may come as a shock to you). NBH has been very fortunate to have the opportunity to purchase Northern Berkshire Family Practice. With a shortage of primary care providers, the hospital's ability to secure PCPs for the community is crucial to the health and wellness of all of us (nurses, non nurses, whoever!). In addition, if renovations weren't made to NARH, how could they possibly generate revenue if noone wanted to visit a less than pleasant facility??!! If you own a home, it would make sense to build equity into it in the event that you wanted to benefit financially from it, right?
I agree that nurses, doctors, ancillary providers and every other department within NBH deserve the best. But it seems to present a sad notion of civic disengagement when we are looking to protect some jobs and not looking for the good of all employees. Maybe Concerned would be willing to volunteer at NBH...I'm sure they'll need some free labor after they are forced to lay off staff because of the recent MNA decision.
Yes, nurses are the backbone of any hospital. But to act as if they are not well paid is a farce. Those at the higher end of the pay scale, with the most seniority, make upwards of $100,000 or more each year. The ones who will be laid off are those at the lower end, who are trying to build a nursing career and make ends meet. It's easy for the union leaders at NARH to be indignant - they won't lose their jobs when all is said and done, and they'll still make a lot more than the average North Adams or North Berkshire resident. A friend of mine works at the Wyndham Hotel/Resort at Jiminy Peak. Today they fired her entire department because of the economy. She has a college education and was struggling at $10 an hour to make ends meet, and is now unemployed. If you're in the MNA, try telling your sob stories about lost overtime to real people who have to lose their homes, cars, apartments while you're driving your Lexus or BMW.
Very well spoken for the greed establishment! I do agree however, I think nurses do deserve more, like the first spot in the unemployment line just so the whole moment of their new existence kicks in faster for them. I say shut that whole place down, your ridiculous propaganda doesn’t fool or scare anyone. Nurses serve one of countless functions that allow a hospital to operate. You people have a truly inflated ego thinking you are what keeps the place running
The pilot program is being funded by a $180K federal grant and is part of a partnership of Berkshire Agricultural Ventures and Mass Farms to School.
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Drury High School students don't have to ask "where's the beef" from, now that the school has partnered to bring local meat into its food service system.
Nonprofit Berkshire Agricultural Ventures (BAV) is partnering with Mass Farms to School to bring locally produced ground beef to school cafeterias as part of a pilot initiative funded by a $180,133 USDA Patrick Leahy Farm to School Grant. The program is named for the retired Vermont senator who wrote the original legislation in 2010.
North Adams Public Schools is one of two school district partners on the pilot project, Lenox being the other.
BAV hopes the project can takeoff and expand into more schools or institutions.
"We're really hoping that it takes off, and that we, in the sense of we can work with, or more schools can be part of this in the future, and we can kind of work out the kinks, which I think is part of what this is all about" said Audrey Hackett, BAV's communications and development manager.
She said part of the nonprofit's mission is to help strengthen the local food system and work with local farmers.
"Part of BAV's larger work to strengthen our local food system. So a lot of what we do is work directly with farmers and support a lot of livestock farmers," she said. "More than 40 percent of our farmers in our region are livestock, and so we work directly with them oftentimes, but it's also increasingly an opportunity to work, you know, a level up at the food system level to bring together partners for projects like this that bring more local food into to our not only our schools. I mean, there are lots of opportunities across institutions throughout our region, hospitals, prison systems, nursing homes, and all of that remains to be done."
Last week, students were having burgers made from meat brought by Marty's Local, a regional food distributor that works with more than 160 farms and food producers.
Marty's Local CEO Sandra Thomas said it was great to partner with BAV to help bring the meat to the school, citing that getting more local meat into the market fills a gap in the local food system. Thomas was able to work with Cherry Point Beef, a Western Mass distributor that sources cattle from four local farms.
Food Services Director Thomas Lark said they are excited to be a part of the program and that it's important to be able to showcase local food on the menu, especially for the students to be able to try these new things.
"We want them to see local food on the menu, to know that it's coming from somewhere they recognize. A lot of the time with school lunch, there's a little impression of like, oh, what's this? Where did this come from?" he said. "And so, this is a great way to say, this is what it is. This is where it comes from. Like, it's just down the road. You've driven past here before, and have them understand that, like, we're serving local stuff too. It's not mystery meat from far away."
Lark also said they have been working with the meat since earlier this year, testing out new ideas to bring to the students like a Korean beef bowl.
"Was a new thing, but we thought new ingredient, new recipe, let's really highlight it, and it was pretty successful. We're running it again next Monday. Actually, Marty's truck was here this morning delivering the beef for next Monday, and we're going to run that again. And that was one where the students who were willing to try it really liked it, and were telling their friends like, "Oh, you should have gotten this." So we're excited for Monday, we'll probably see even more kids trying it out," he said.
The North Adams Public Schools were highlighted last year by the state for its farm-to-school initiatives to bring fresh, local produce to students.
A couple students who had the burger for lunch said it was good.
Drury High School students don't have to ask "where's the beef" from, now that the school has partnered to bring local meat into its food service system. click for more
Senior Patrick Holland Saturday finished in fourth place to lead the Mount Greylock boys cross country team to a Western Massachusetts Class B Championship at Stanley Park. click for more
However, preparations for the project are starting now with the removal of trees, placement of utility poles and installation of drainage down Oak Street this fall — dependent on weather.
click for more
Voters sent a strong message on Tuesday, with Democrats flipping seats across the country and easily returning the state's Democratic leadership to office. click for more
