Tue 22 Jun 2010
Voting to Strike
Posted by crossn81 under Elections
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Last night the Minnesota Nurses Association authorized an indefinite strike at 14 metro area hospitals. Â We’ve not been excited about this prospect and feel that both sides have been more focused on control and power than actual negotiations. Â It seems odd that anyone would relish the idea of a strike, but many floor nurses have been excited. The union says that 84% of members approved the strike action, but hasn’t actually released the number of nurses who voted. Â In May 3/4 or approximately 8,000 of the 12,000+ nurses voted, with 90% approving the one day strike.
The MNA has finally posted a side-by-side comparison of the negotiating points as of June 15. Â Nothing has changed since then, except the vote to authorize a strike and the fact the MNA rejected the hospital’s condition of no strike until after July 31 to restart negotiations.
Below is the comparison of the MNA and Fairview’s negotiating points (assuming the MNA isn’t distorting the hospitals). Â A list of the hospital’s proposal’s can be found here.
MNA Proprosal, as posted on June 22 | Fairview Proposal |
MNA’s Current Proposal 1. Staffing Ratios ? Acuity: MNA negotiating teams have asked hospitals to address “Staffing†issues. The proposal that was made on Staffing and Acuity was supposed to be a starting place not the place where we ended up. 2. Educational Development: MNA proposes that all education is scheduled quarterly in 4 or 8 hour blocks, this does not cost the employer anything. 3. Emergency Preparedness for Disaster and Catastrophic Events: This is to prepare for the future, there is no cost to this proposal. 4. Infectious Diseases: This is a proposal to prepare for the future, proper equipment and preparation for future outbreaks like H1N1 5. Low Need Days and Layoff: MNA proposes seniority should be honored fully and completely in any layoff 6. Technology: MNA proposes that technology does not replace clinical judgment. 7. Successors and Assigns: This proposal ensures that the contract reached between the two parties is a condition of sale in the event of a sale, merger, joint venture, consolidation and reorganization. 8. Bargaining Unit Protection/Kentucky River: Charge nurses have always been a part of our union and this proposal ensures us that the employer cannot challenge their standing within it. 9. Bargaining Unit Protection: MNA proposes the employer will not require a nurse to choose between her or his contract and their clinical specialty. 10. Incorporation of Interim Agreements: MNA proposes all understandings reached between the two parties are consistent with the contract. 11. Neutrality: Organizing and Election Procedures. MNA proposal provides a mechanism where “not yet union†Registered Nurses may form a union without interference or coercion from their employer 12. Wages: The union has modified our proposal but we are confident that wages are not the sticking point. 13.Insurance Benefits: We have proposed 95% employer paid health insurance. What MNA Has Dropped: Our Negotiating Team Moved for the Purposes of Bargaining: Modified Staffing Proposal Reduced Wage Proposal for each year but we are confident that wages are not the sticking point. Modified the Health Insurance Proposal |
Fairview Southdale Hospital and University of Minnesota Medical Center – Riverside Campus Hospitals Proposal May 13, 2010 Note: Items crossed out represented proposals the Fairview bargaining has dropped during negotiations. They are not part of our current offer. 1
TIME-OFF Replace Section 4 L with the following so as to eliminate the time-off option for straight night time-off bonus: Delete this section. Delete this section. 7. Section 14 D – Mandatory Low-Need Days: Replace the language in Section 14 D so that mandatory low need days will be rotated among all regularly scheduled nursing staff on a calendar year basis, and the low need notice will be two hours for all shifts (including holidays) as follows: STAFFING and SCHEDULING Modify the third paragraph of Section 6 B as indicated below and delete the fourth paragraph of Section 6 B and to ensure there is adequate staffing on holidays: 17. Section 22 C – Unit Grid Reviews Delete the last paragraph in Section 22 C. BENEFITS 19. Sections 6 C, 6 C 3, 29 A 2, 29 D and 29 F: Modify these Sections as indicated below so that effective January 1, 2011 benefit eligibility is determined by being authorized to work forty (40) hours or more per two week payroll period. 20. Section 29 A – Health and Hospitalization Insurance Replace the first paragraph of Section 29 A with the following and update any other areas of the contract as needed so as to transition all nurses to the non-contract MedChoice health insurance plan: Delete the last sentence in Section 29 A 2 and delete Sections 29 A 4 and 29 A 5 d in their entirety.. 23. Section 29 C – Long-Term Disability For clarification purposes only, replace the first sentence of the first paragraph of Section 29 C with the following: OTHER SECTIONS 27. Section 4 B – Longevity Bonus: Delete Section 4 B. Update the list of certifications as needed. Pension MODIFICATIONS TO APPENDIX C (pg.88) – RECOGNIZED CERTIFICATION PROGRAMS |
I couldn’t find a copy of the current (now expired) contract. But trust me, it is quite generous!
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- Minn. Nurses Approve Second Strike at 14 Hospitals (abcnews.go.com)
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