We met with management for day 5 of WSNA/KVCH contract negotiations on March 22, 2012. Our next date for negotiations is scheduled for April 17, 2012.
WSNA/KVCH HOSPITAL NEGOTIATIONS ALERT
3/23/12
Your fellow nurses on your WSNA bargaining team have been attempting to get a fair contract at Kittitas Valley Community Hospital over five bargaining sessions since November. During these sessions, Management has taken positions on several issues that we believe could, among other things, negatively impact your working conditions at the hospital, your life away from the hospital and your financial security. Our next session is scheduled for April 17th. Here is what Management has been up to in these negotiations.
WAGES:
Management is proposing that nurses at KVCH will not receive annual across-the-board increases for the life of a three-year contract. For Home Health and Hospice Nurses, it is much worse. Management is proposing to slash the wages of Home Health and Hospice nurses by 18% in the first year.
We believe that Management’s wage proposal does not reflect an appreciation of the hard work of ALL nurses at KVCH and is not consistent with recent settlements that WSNA has reached with other hospitals. Management’s proposal to slash the wages of Home Health and Hospice nurses by 18% in the first year of the contract will put them on a lower wage scale than all the other nurses in the bargaining unit. Other hospitals that have contracts with WSNA that cover Home Health and Hospice nurses pay them the same as other nurses because they appreciate the hard work that these nurses do and the value what they bring to the communities and to their hospitals. KVCH
Management has a different perspective and thinks that HHH are worth less because they spend some time travelling on the Hospital’s behalf and, as their job requires, treating patients in their homes.
Management asserts that its proposals are market-based and reflect a reasonable response to the current healthcare economic conditions. However, if you look at the many recent WSNA contract settlements, you will find that WSNA hospitals across the state have committed to wage increases going forward that are above what Management is proposing for nurses at KVCH. Moreover, many WSNA Hospitals give newly-hired nurses full, year-for-year credit for nursing experiences. KCVH gives 2 years’ less credit to newly hired nurses with 4 or more years of experience. Other WSNA-represented hospitals face similar, if not the same, uncertainties with respect to health care reform; yet, they have managed to commit to wage increases above what KVCH is offering.
LOW CENSUS STANDBY:
Management is proposing that nurses can be REQUIRED to be placed on standby when they are low censused. Under the current contract, nurses cannot be required to be on standby when low censused; and this makes sense. Nurses commit to KVCH to work their assigned FTE, and there should be an equal commitment on the part of Management to provide work equal to the nurses’ FTEs. Years ago, KVCH nurses agreed to the concept of “low census” to allow Management to send nurses home without full pay based on census conditions. This is a great cost saving for the Hospital. Now Management wants to take this concept a giant leap further. It wants not only to send nurses home, but also to force nurses to wait by the phone to be called back to work if Management wants them to come back to work. Think about how this could impact your life at home. When you are low censused and forced to be on standby, you would always have one foot at home and one foot at work. How would you management typical household issues such as childcare, etc. with such an arrangement? Your quality of life “away from” work would suffer.
Also, think about how staffing patterns might change with a forced standby system. Would it lead to more skeletal staffing and more low census because Management knows it could force you to come back to work on short notice? How would it affect continuity of care? We think that this proposal is bad for nurses and bad for the practice of nursing.
WEEKEND WORK:
Management is proposing to eliminate language that states that full-time and part-time nurses will be scheduled at least every other weekend off except in emergency situations. Management is also proposing that the 1 1/2x penalty provision for having to work consecutive weekends applies only if a nurse works BOTH days on BOTH weekends. Currently, the penalty provision applies if a nurse works either day of both weekends. Finally,
Management is proposing to eliminate the seniority provisions that currently reduce or eliminate weekend work requirements for very senior nurses if such schedules are available.
JOB POSTINGS:
Management has made proposals that would reduce, and in some cases, eliminate the role of seniority in determining who is awarded a position.
REST PERIODS:
We are proposing that nurses receive uninterrupted 15-minute rest breaks in each four hour period. We know how important it is to have 15 minutes to recharge your batteries during a shift. Many WSNA-represented hospitals have already adopted this standard. Management has said “NO”.
Management’s proposals will negatively affect your day-to-day working conditions as well as your pocket book. Now, more than ever, it’s important for nurses at KVCH to stand united! Here’s how you get involved!
Attend Board meetings and wear BLUE. The next one is March 29th at 4:30 pm in Conf. Rm. A/B.
Place a sign of support in your car window. We will get you one.
Put up a yard sign in a high visibility area. We will get you one.
Talk with other nurses and invite them to join you at the Board meetings.
In Solidarity,
Your WSNA Bargaining Team
Vonda Jennings (899-1822); Paul Kelly (899-1647); Emery Davenport (933-3053); Judi Lyons (962- 2863); Carmen Garrison, WSNA Nursing Representative (206-575-7979, ext. 3113).
