Saint Michael Medical Center RNs - Bargaining Update

On Thursday, April 3, our Bargaining Team met with Management to resume negotiations. In the morning we presented all our economic proposals except for retirement, which we want to discuss with our co-workers in an upcoming meeting (to be announced). We addressed staffing ratios, incentive shift language, break relief nurses, various new proposed premiums to recognize specialized skills of certain RNs, wages, increased PTO, and retention bonuses (among other things).

We were aghast at Management's attitude when we presented our economic package proposals, with members of their team making snide comments while our negotiator presented the information, and in some cases even laughing at proposals around staffing and break nurses.

After our presentation, Management took our proposals and went to caucus for an extended period. We then waited for responses on these economic items, as well as their next set of counterproposals on non-economics, which we last had passed to them on March 27. Upon returning some counterproposals towards the end of the day, we saw little substance in their responses but put together another pass of our own on non-economics to present first thing next week.

Our next bargaining date is April 10, with more sessions confirmed for April 16, May 8, and May 15. Stay tuned for all-member Contract Action Team meetings.

"We were excited to pass our initial economic and staffing proposals to management, including safe staffing ratios and market-competitive wages. But instead of taking them seriously, management literally laughed in our faces. It was beyond disrespectful and shows that we need to be ready to take action for a fair contract." 

— Meredith Francisco, RN (Med Surg)

Our Union Bargaining Team: Kim Fraser (Pre-Op); Janice Brown (FBC); Tammy Olson (ICU); Amanda Lancheros (ER); Lindsey Gearllach (Obs); Meredith Francisco (Med Surg)