Nurses Deliver Strike Notice To North Adams Hospital

Staff ReportsiBerkshires
08:47PM / Tuesday, August 03, 2010Print Story | Email Story

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Negotiations between the hospital and registered nurses went critical on Tuesday with a strike date set for Sept. 3, at 6 a.m.

Northern Berkshire Healthcare and the Massachusetts Nurses Association have been trying to hammer out a contract since earlier this year; the current contract lapsed in March. But concessions that health-system officials say are imperative to the financial health of North Adams Regional Hospital and that the union says will gut the contract and put patients at risk have become a major obstacle.

Nurses voted overwhelmingly on July 20 to authorize a strike in hopes of forcing the hospital to back down from a "flexible scheduling" proposal and other language on the table. Flexible scheduling was also reportedly a major sticking point during negotiations late last year between the hospital and SEIU1199, which also authorized a strike.

"All the hopes we had that management would remove the concessions and find an equitable solution went out the window today," said bargaining unit co-Chairwoman Ruth O'Hearn. "They not only kept the worst concessions on the table, they added more language that is unacceptable. We were left with no other alternative but to give them a strike date."

In a statement, hospital officials said, "We have always expressed our belief that compromise is possible, and that through engaging in the negotiating process we could arrive at fair and mutually acceptable terms. We arrived at today's negotiations with significant modifications to our proposal, in response to concerns the nurses had voiced in the media - though never at the bargaining table. However, at the end of the meeting we were presented with a previously-written strike notice."

MNA officials say they understand the hospital's frail financial condition and tried to work with the health system officials.

"Instead of taking up our offer, NARH has given the nurses no option other than setting the strike date," said co-Chairwoman Mary McConnell. "We have absolutely no idea why the hospital has decided to go to a strike that would be very expensive."

The hospital's statement said officials were "extremely disappointed to receive the notice" but are prepared to protect the health of patients.

"We want to assure the entire community that we have contingency plans in place and that North Adams Regional Hospital will continue to care for our community, should the MNA and nurses choose to strike."

Both sides acknowledged that a strike would be damaging in terms of nurses' wages and hospital resources.

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Your Comments

iBerkshires.com welcomes critical, respectful dialogue. Name-calling, personal attacks, libel, slander or foul language is not allowed. All comments are reviewed before posting and will be deleted or edited as necessary.

I'm not sure why it's illegal for teachers to strike, but it's ok for nurses? Editor: Because teachers are public employees and the state can make rules regarding their contracts.
from: really?	on: 08-04-2010 09:11AM I Agree (17) - I Disagree (3)

I'd like to see management take the same concessions they are asking the nurses to take. How do you budget and pay your bills when you don't know how many hours you'll work because you get sent home when it's not busy? I'd like to see adminstration work under those rules. God knows nurses don't have a home life so forget that glass of wine when you're off as you may get called back in! That's BS. No one in any industry works like that. Yes, people are on call, but 24/7? Hell no. Not fair.
from: po'd patient	on: 08-04-2010 10:37AM I Agree (37) - I Disagree (24)

Fact - The proposal does not alter the contracted agreed hours of work for each nurse. If you are contracted to work 32 hours, you're guaranteed 32 hours. If you're contracted to work 38 hours, you're guaranteed 38 hours. The alteration or concession would be "extra" hours. So, as I am employed to work 38 hours/week, I create a budget for my household based on 38 hours/week of pay. How is that a hardship? If you are too tired or would like to sip a glass of wine on your day off, say no when you're called in or asked to stay and let another nurse come in for the overtime. Wonder how they do it over at BMC?
from: Concerned	on: 08-04-2010 04:07PM I Agree (17) - I Disagree (13)

The hospital doesnot want MNA to have guaranteed hours. If you were hired for 40 and you come into work they want to be able to send you home if it's not busy but then be able to call you back if it does get busy w/in that same day. So if you do go home you need to use your earned time to make up the difference or take a cut in pay that day. If you do start using earned time after a while there will be no more time to take and then you will have to take a cut in pay, and you won't be able to take any vacation w/ your family b/c all your time will be used up. How is that fair? It's not!! SEIU wouldn't stand for it and to ask MNA to do it is not right. If they just took that off the table I am sure an agreement could be reached!
from: proud 1199 SEIU member	on: 08-05-2010 09:50AM I Agree (12) - I Disagree (15)

How would you like to be an acutely ill patient (or the loved one of an acutely ill patient), and have the RN caring for you work her/his 12 hour shift and be mandated to stay for a total of 16 hours (that's what the law allows). Then maybe finish up in 17 or 18 hours. Then go home get minimal sleep and come back again for another 12 hour shift on the 2nd day and maybe another the next day?? There's not enough caffeine to fix that overtired RN's problems. And it's the patient's well being that's at stake, as well as the RN's license if a major mistake occurs. Reinstating mandated overtime for RN's is one of NARH's proposals for the new contract. This is a horribly unsafe idea. For everyone involved.
from: Richard RN	on: 08-05-2010 11:55AM I Agree (18) - I Disagree (11)

Usually I agree with the workers, sorry though not in this case. Cost is driving people away from the hospital. Medical expenses for the people are out of control and no longer affordable that’s to the new laws that guaranties Insurance companies’ business and profit, that’s the bottom line. Things have to change or that hospital on the hill will be no more than emergency medical services and all will be shipped to BMC, Spfd and Albany and many will lose their jobs. That’s the real story. The cost of the hire ups may be a factor but not a big one as they’re not all that many of them and that relates to small change in the overall budget picture. BBp
from: BBp	on: 08-07-2010 09:57AM I Agree (3) - I Disagree (15)

BBp, anyone might think you're a 'higher (not hire) up' at NARH. Although, the CEO has 'hired up' a few of his friends to those 'higher up' positions over the years.
from: Richard RN	on: 08-08-2010 10:03PM I Agree (10) - I Disagree (4)

Veteran Spotlight: Marine Corp. Tim Woodward

By Wayne SoaresSpecial to iBerkshires
05:17PM / Sunday, February 15, 2026

FALMOUTH, Mass. — Tim Woodward served his country in the Marine Corps as a corporal from 1983 to 1987.

Having grown up with Tim, you knew he was the type of person who would succeed at whatever he attempted. His drive and discipline set him apart from his peers, even at a young age. He would have four college acceptances after graduating from Falmouth High School, but put them on hold to enlist in the Marines, where he did his basic training at Parris Island, S.C.

"It was definitely an eye opener," he said. "I had some pretty good preparation as my father and uncle were Marines. It was a lot of work, more mental than physical, and a lot of people weren't prepared for that.

"I wasn't fearful. It was about earning the title of U.S Marines. I'm proud of the fact that I was selected for just about every leadership position in my platoon, including Honor Man. I had a great time."

Woodward's first assignment would take him to the former Naval Air Station Memphis in Tennessee for aviation electronics training through a rolling admissions program.

"Made it all the way through — I was pretty good at troubleshooting. I always wanted to fly jets but ended up working on them," he said. "After schooling, I was sent to Whidbey Island, north of Tacoma and Seattle, Wash., where I was attached to Navy Squadron VAQ-129, where I learned to test the electronics on the Grumman EA 6B Prowler.

"I also did five months with VAQ-29. I remember when you drove into the base the sign overhead said, 'EXCUSE OUR NOISE, IT'S THE SOUND OF FREEDOM,'" Woodward said. "I had a chance to climb on the jets, wash them like your car, walk on the wings — lots of good memories."

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