Letter from President of the California Nurses Association:
December 4, 2000
Denise Garlick, RN
President, Massachusetts Nurses Association
Congratulations to the staff nurse leadership and members of the
Massachusetts Nurses Association. It's a new day for nurses and patients. The
mandate for change from your rank and file will resound through Massachusetts
and the nation. Your bold decision will send an unmistakable message to the
conglomerates and consultants who dominate the health care industry that
registered nurses will never accept the degradation of patient care
standards. It will fill direct care nurses across our land with hope and
inspiration that they, too, can take control of their practice and their
lives. It will tell patients everywhere that the nurses they count on when
they are vulnerable will not sacrifice their patients' health and well being
for their employers' private gain.
For far too long, nurses who labor at the bedside have been told we must
accept the prerogatives of others in determining what is best for their
patients and themselves. The crisis nurses and patients face today - the
corporate hijack of our health care system, the tens of millions of uninsured
and underinsured, the deskilling and deprofessionalization of care that
prevail in so many hospitals - tell us nurses dare no longer be silent.
Direct care nurses have been reluctant to act in our own interest, but when
we move we can have enormous power. In California several years ago, rank and
file nurses also decided to take control of our organization and confront
head on the threat to our patients, our families, our colleagues, and our
communities. We have been proud of the results.
First, we dedicated our association to a program of patient advocacy - an
unequivocal commitment to challenging the profit-oriented assault on care
standards and the role of the RN, and to building permanent alliances with
patients, consumers, and other direct care nurses who shared our commitment
to fundamental health care reform.
Second, we began an intensive effort to bring the benefits of representation
to unorganized nurses, and an extensive effort to strengthen the democratic
voice of our members through educational workshops and clinical training
programs. Additionally, we made the goals of patient advocacy and the
advancement of the staff nurses the primary focus of our collective
bargaining, legislative, regulatory and nursing practice programs.
We look happily forward to a long and cooperative partnership with the new
Massachusetts Nurses Association, one that is based on shared visions and
dreams.
In solidarity, on behalf of the California Nurses Association,
Kay McVay, RN, President
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Message from Webmistress of UnionTalk4Nurses:
We are seeing an uprising of frontline nurses who will redefine the
profession and the true meaning of nursing "care" as well as an involvement
in rebuilding health care in America. We will no longer have our dreams
dampened by self-interest groups who sleep in the same bed with corporate
America and those who have led our profession down the road towards its own
demise.
Sincerely, Beth E. McGarry, Florida Nurse
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"It is not a sign of good health to be well adjusted to a sick society." -J.
Krishnamurti
--------------------------------------------
Reflections on MNA's Presence at MASS-CARE's Annual Banquet (chaired by Peg
O'Malley):
It was wonderful to be present when the new ED, Julie Pinkham, and President,
Denise Garlick, of MNA were inaugurally introduced to the public by the new
Vice President, Peg O'Malley, at (what could be more appropriate than) a
single-payer event. It was also great to see Michael and Ann (and, of course,
Maurice) and engage in what for me was fruitful dialogue in that the
perception of 'noninclusiveness' and, therefore, kneejerk reaction of some
may be to reject out of hand the new look of MNA without really thinking
(although it is ironic that this concern is greatest in regard to groups of
researchers, educators, etc.). But this, along with personal experiences
listening to the opposing view regarding disaffiliation also makes me realize
that there is quite a need for information and education among our colleagues
who actually do want to know. It was astounding to me for instance when I
went to the Awards Committee right after the convention, how no one there
(they had all voted to stay with ANA) knew what was actually happening in NY
on that very day (a meeting between NYSNA, SEIU, UAN, and the AFL/CIO) nor
any understanding of how that could potentially impact not only the ANA and
MNA but the whole profession of nursing. And when we started to talk about
it, the lack of basic common vocabulary - I had someone even ask me to
describe what "raid" meant. It was dismaying, however, that some of what I
was explaining challenged their paradigms so much that they simply refused to
believe even the possibility that we could be facing some serious issues (if
SEIU for example became the healthcare power they are working towards) or
that things would ever affect us only because "Massachusetts has always been
different" or "I just have a hunch that won't happen." Although I believe
that this is representative of the 'locked in mindset' of a good many of this
group, I also realize that there is an absolute need to get the information
(although it is still a shared responsibility to engage in the pursuit of
knowledge) to those who will utilize it productively either by their own
automatic, intellectual approach or one facilitated by the dismantling of
their wall of denial by recent revolutionary changes within the MNA
structure. As Peg O'Malley so wonderfully articulated, the staff nurse, the
"sacred trust they hold for the patients they serve, is the core of the
profession from which springs the need for all other aspects of our
profession. From this view point, the nursing researchers, educators and
administrators all exist to facilitate and protect this essence of our
profession. The fact that we should continue to provide reassurance to this
group of their continued 'belonging' to the MNA and the high regard and need
that they fulfill was also wonderfully articulated by Michael last night and
of course we will progress professionally and sensitively to the knowledge
curve that many will have. I do not, however, plan to let this point be used
on me as 'wet blanket of oppression' as it has so effectively been done to
nurses in the past. This is truly a time to rejoice in the rebirth of our
pride, strength and hope for the continued viability of the staff nurse, the
reason for our profession and send a message to corporate healthcare that a
most splendid event has taken place for our nursing profession and therefore,
of course, for the patients and public it serves: the staff nurses and their
advocates have risen! It is sad that this will be a frightening message for
them. Let's hope it is also prophetic. With Julie Pinkham as our leader and
a Board of Directors for the first time in MNA history comprised of
progressive staff nurses and/or staff nurse advocates, we are a huge step
closer to the 'necessary changes' that will make it so.
Mary Marengo, RN
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Teana Gilinson's Letter of Resignation from Advisory Committee to The
American Nurse:
Dear Susan:
I was truly upset by the ANA's December 4, 2000 press release regarding
changes in the Massachusetts Nurses Association leadership. The statement was
full of half truths and distortions intended to tarnish the reputation of one
of the greatest nursing organizations in the country.
As one of the "renegades" referred to in the press release, I find it ironic
that the ANA would criticize us when Mary Foley, and others from the ANA,
used every dirty trick in the book in order to sabotage the efforts of staff
nurses in Massachusetts who expressed their intent to disaffiliate from the
ANA.
The press release fails to mention that MNA President Karen Daley and other
officers and board members resigned during the December 1 meeting. Had they
not uttered the words "I resign," put on their coats and left the meeting,
there would have been no way that others could have been installed into
office. By the way, no one was "appointed." Instead, MNA by-laws were
followed (to the letter) in order to determine who should assume the
leadership positions.
As to the firing of the executive director and two other staff members -
there were reasons. These individuals engaged in a campaign to oppose the
wishes and direct orders of a majority of the board of directors. The
executive director is hired by the board of directors, and is fired by the
board of directors. Her role was to fulfill the wishes of the board with
regard to the direction and goals of the organization. When she could no
longer do that, she was fired and a replacement named.
I believe that the relationship between ANA and MNA is damaged beyond repair.
Personally, I have lost all respect for the ANA and its leadership.
Therefore, I must inform you of my decision to resign from the Staff Nurse
Editorial Advisory Committee of The American Nurse.
My interactions and conversations with you, Susan, have been truly pleasant
and productive. Please assume nothing personal in my above comments.
Sincerely,
Teana Gilinson, RN
----------------------------------------
Message from Webmistress of Nurse Advocate:
Congratulations to Massachusetts nurses and I look forward to MNA progress
under Julie Pinkham's leadership - well, it would be more accurate to say the
progress I suspect will occur knowing the unbelievable collection of talent
of many including Julie within this one organization.
I notice Denise Garlick is the new President. You all may recall that Denise
was recently assaulted by ANA Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer
Linda Stierle at a town meeting in Worcester. I understand that the first
court hearing to determine "just cause" was held this morning, and that the
judge did find cause and scheduled Stierle's hearing for January 19th.
Also, it is wonderful to once again hear the voice of MNA Director of Public
Communications David Schildmeier who is one of the best writers in nursing
today but from whom we've heard hardly a peep since Worcester. I don't know
what closet some MNA executive was keeping him in, but I'm just thankful that
someone let him out. I should have been wearing one of those buttons: "Free
David."
I've been saying all year that anyone who wants to get a heads up on the
future of nursing should be watching Massachusetts. But I gave up after the
November vote. I see I was too easily defeated.
Carrie Lybecker, RN, Olympia, Washington
------------------------------------------
Mass. activists renew push for universal health care
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
December 5, 2000
BOSTON-- Universal health care supporters, undaunted by failure at the ballot
box and in the Legislature, are relaunching their campaign to cover every
Massachusetts resident under a state-controlled health care system.
The proposal, to be filed as legislation this week, is one of a flurry
expected to be filed before tomorrow afternoon's deadline.
Others include a helmet requirement for scooter riders, a ban on the
Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System exam as a graduation
requirement and revisions to the state's Special Education law.
Universal health care supporter Linda Stamm said recent health care crises,
from health maintenance organizations dropping seniors to financial troubles
among nursing homes and hospitals, make universal care more likely now than
ever before.
The Mass. Care coalition has fought for a single-payer, universal health care
system since 1994. But Stamm, a spokeswoman for the coalition, said past
failures don't mean it will never pass.
"That's what they said about women's suffrage, that's what they said about
ending the (Vietnam) war, that's what they said about civil rights," Stamm
said. "Eventually, people get behind it."
Peter Ajemian, a spokesman for the state's HMOs, disputed that the state's
health care system is in crisis.
"Can a new government-operated bureaucracy do a better job than existing
health plans at delivering health care?" he asked. "I don't think one could
demonstrate the current health care system is failing."
Stamm said support for the change has been growing in the Legislature,
reaching as high as 38 percent of senators and 31 percent of representatives
during the last legislative session.
A ballot question that would have paved the way for universal health care in
Massachusetts was defeated last month, but only after opponents spent more
than $5 million. Supporters of the measure spent just over $100,000.
Stamm said the health care proposal would create a 15-member board that would
take in all the money paid for health care services and then pay it out to
providers such as hospitals and HMOs.
The ballot question called for universal health coverage in Massachusetts by
2002, but it did not describe how to get there.
A related piece of legislation, also set to be filed this week, would raise
the current 76-cent-per-pack cigarette tax by 50 cents.
The move would raise enough money -- an estimated $270 million, including
federal matching funds -- to bring insurance to 100,000 of the state's
400,000 uninsured residents, said Marcia Hams, deputy director for Health
Care For All.
In 1996, the state raised the cigarette tax from 51 to 76 cents, a move that
provided enough money to pay for insurance for 250,000 more residents.
"We're taking the steps toward universal health care," Hams said.
Cigarette companies oppose the proposed tax increase. They say cigarettes are
already among the most highly taxed products, and raising taxes on them hurts
the poorest cigarette consumers the most.
Like universal health care, the MCAS exam is sure to be near the top of the
agenda for this year's legislative session, which begins in January.
The Massachusetts Teachers Association plans to file legislation that would
prohibit use of the MCAS test as a graduation requirement.
This year's 10th-graders are required to pass the test in order to graduate.
"We're opposed to the MCAS test being used to deny students a diploma," said
MTA spokesman Andrew Linebaugh.
The proposal is likely to face stiff opposition in the Legislature, where
lawmakers have called for standards of accountability after spending billions
of dollars since the Education Reform Act passed in 1993.
©2000 Worcester Telegram & Gazette Corp.
--------------------------------------------
Nursing worries prompt legislation
by Jennifer Heldt Powell, Boston Herald
December 5, 2000
Lawmakers hope to stem a pending nursing shortage with a package of bills to
retain and attract workers.
The bills were released yesterday by Sen. Richard T. Moore with others
promoting patient safety. The issues are linked, the Uxbridge Democrat said.
``If we don't have enough nursing staff, or if we're asking them to work too
many hours, they are more prone to making errors,'' he said.
The nursing population is aging and fewer people are entering the field,
advocates say.
``We are already witnessing a nursing shortage, and it's nothing less than a
public health crisis,'' said Denise Garlick, the new president of the
Massachusetts Nurses Association.
Moore's bill would:
Provide a $25,000 hiring bonus over four years for new nurses in the top 15
percent of their class.
Provide a $50,000 stipend over 10 years for experienced nurses who mentor new
nurses.
Provide scholarships and student loan forgiveness for nursing school
graduates.
The incentives, to be called the ``Clara Barton Nursing Excellence Program,''
would require a trust fund of about $60 million.
Another proposal would create a health insurance subsidy for direct care
workers whose wages are less than three times the poverty line, about $26,000
for an individual.
``It seems it's a moral crime that someone who is at the bedside doing the
heavy work wouldn't have health insurance,'' Moore said.
To promote patient safety, Moore proposed medical error reduction programs
and an expansion of state oversight of care quality issues.
Copyright by the Boston Herald
--------------------------------------------
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 8, 2000
Contact: David Schildmeier (MNA) (781) 821-4625 x717 or (781) 249-0430
Valley Regional Hospital and Mass. Nurses Association Joint Announcement
VALLEY REGIONAL HOSPITAL NURSES VOTE TO RATIFY FIRST CONTRACT
CLAREMONT, NH. -- Officials at Valley Regional Hospital and registered nurses
at the facility represented by the Massachusetts Nurses Association are
pleased to jointly announce the conclusion of their first contract. Today,
nurses voted by a margin of 52 - 9 to ratify the contract. The vote followed
an 18-hour negotiation session of two weeks ago between the nurses and
hospital management. More than 100 nurses at the facility will be covered by
the contract.
After 20 months of negotiations, both sides are pleased with the outcome and
committed to continuing standards of high quality patient care and striving
to be the employer of choice for area nurses. The contract includes many
provisions that may allow Valley Regional Hospital to recruit and retain
nurses in the wake of a growing nursing shortage, specifically by providing
nurses with a number of protections to ensure they can practice safely and
competently in addition to economic incentives.
Speaking for the nurses, Jennifer Weeks, chairperson of the bargaining unit
said, "It has been a very long road for all of us, but we are very pleased
with the outcome. We organized a union at this hospital to have a voice in
decisions about our nursing practice and this contract provides that voice."
Hospital President Claire Bowen said, "Both management and nurses have
diligently negotiated this contract for many months. During this process we
were all committed to continuing high standards of patient care and we have
achieved this."
"This contract is a victory for all of us at Valley Regional Hospital," said
Marie Mailloux, a member of the nurses' negotiating committee. "This
agreement signals a new era of teamwork and cooperation between the nurses
and management of this facility for the benefit of the health of our
community." Bowen echoed this comment.
Some highlights under the terms of the three-year contract include:
1. An agreement that there will be no mandatory overtime for nurses. Nurses
may continue to volunteer to work overtime if needed to meet patient care
requirements. The language granted to the nurses at Valley Regional provides
strong protections for both nurses and patients and demonstrates both
parties' commitment to quality patient care.
2. Establishment of a Nursing Committee composed of staff nurses and nursing
directors. Immediately upon ratification this committee will review staffing
to reach agreement on appropriate staffing for each unit, and will continue
to meet to discuss staffing issues and the improvement of patient care on a
monthly basis
3. An increase in both evening and night differentials to provide a greater
incentive for nurses to staff the less desirable shifts.
4. Implementation of a 12-step salary scale inclusive of three nursing pay
grades. The new salary scale ranges from $15.72 per hour to $23.38 per hour.
The salary scale grants each nurse a 3% increase between steps. Nurses will
be placed on the scale based on their total years of service as a registered
nurse.
5. Guaranteed orientation programs for nurses accepting a position in a new
area. This is a landmark feature for an MNA contract, which ensures that
nurses assigned to an area of practice within the hospital have appropriate
training and competency to work in that area.
6. Language to ensure safe "floating" of nurses within the facility.
Floating is a term that refers to the movement of nurses from one unit to
another in the facility. The agreement guarantees that nurses who are floated
at VRH are comfortable doing so, and provides them the right to refuse any
assignment they do not feel competent to accept.
In a historic union election held on January 21, 1999 the registered nurses
of Valley Regional Health Care, Inc. (VRH) of Claremont, voted 53-22 for
union representation by the Massachusetts Nurses Association. The nurses are
the only private sector, acute care hospital nurses in the state who are
unionized, according to the MNA.
David Schildmeier
Director of Public Communications
Massachusetts Nurses Association
800-882-2056 x717 (Within Mass. only)
781-830-5717
781-821-4445
781-249-0430 (cell phone)
508-426-1655 (pager)
----------------------------------------------
Big changes for Mass. nurses group: State association names new chief,
board members as it works to secede from national group
by Deanna Bellandi, Modern Healthcare Magazine
December 11, 2000
The Massachusetts Nurses Association has replaced its top leadership as the
20,000-member group again pursues breaking off from the national American
Nurses Association.
The militant move by the nurses comes as Massachusetts hospitals face growing
staff shortages--including nurses--tight reimbursement from both public and
private payers, and consolidation of services.
At an action-packed Dec. 1 meeting, the board of the Canton, Mass.-based
nurses group:
* Voted 9-4 to pursue disaffiliating from the ANA.
* Ousted their executive director and appointed a new one.
* Appointed new board members after the resignation of board President Karen
Daley and four other board members, who voted against breaking away from the
ANA.
The MNA board appointed Julie Pinkham, a registered nurse, as its new
executive director. Pinkham, 39, has worked the past five years as director
of the association's labor relations department.
Pinkham, a vocal proponent of splitting from the ANA, replaced Mary Manning,
whom the board removed after five years on the job.
The Massachusetts Hospital Association is pledging to work with the MNA's new
leadership. "There's still a fairly substantial common agenda between
hospitals and organized nurses," said Andrew Dreyfus, executive vicepresident
of the state hospital association.
Those common points include better training for nurses, increasing the supply
of nurses and improving patient safety, Dreyfus said.
The nurses group's desire to split from the ANA is based largely on
philosophical differences it has with the large national association, which
represents unionized and nonunionized nurses and nurse managers.
The more activist MNA sees the ANA as too moderate and not vocal or
aggressive enough in tackling issues that face nurses, such as staffing and
mandatory overtime, said David Schildmeier, the MNA's director of public
communications.
Pulling out of the ANA also would save the Massachusetts' nurses group more
than $1 million in annual dues it pays to the ANA, Schildmeier said.
A previous attempt by the MNA to disaffiliate from the ANA failed last month
when a vote by the full association narrowly failed to capture the two-thirds
majority needed to change the bylaws and leave the ANA.
Manning, who could not be reached for comment, opposed breaking off from the
ANA, said Susan Bianchi-Sand, director of the 100,000-member United American
Nurses, the union arm of the ANA.
"It would appear they can't live with the democratic results of their own
membership, that's what I think is going down," Bianchi-Sand said.
The Massachusetts nurses account for more than 10% of the ANA's 180,000
members.
-----------------------------------------
Hospital receives care: Hallmark denies Whidden is closing
by Jennifer Heldt Powell, Boston Herald
December 13, 2000
Doctors, nurses and patient advocates rallied outside Everett City Hall
yesterday hoping to save the 106-year-old Whidden Memorial Hospital, but
hospital officials deny there are plans to close the facility.
Community activists said they believe there are plans to close the hospital
because of financial troubles at the facility and others owned by the
Hallmark Health.
Hallmark trustees are meeting this morning to discuss options.
``We've got some real challenges that need to be addressed,'' Hallmark
spokesman Ron Scott said. ``We continue to explore a lot of options to shore
up our financial situation, which is not good.''
He said as far as he knows, there is no ``active discussion'' about closing
the 121-bed hospital.
Hallmark is working with health care consultants at Ernst & Young LLP.
``We are looking at how do we save money without compromising patient care
and how do we make more money - that's systemwide,'' Scott said.
Reassurances from hospital officials, however, haven't mollified community a
ctivists. They believe officials are on the verge of voting to shut it down,
said Dr. Joseph Abate, the chairman of the Friends of Whidden Memorial
Hospital Coalition.
Those who are afraid of losing the hospital said they are protesting now
because they don't want to wait until it's too late.
``What this community wants to do is take a very strong pro-active stand,''
said Jeanne M. Cristiano, the president of the Everett Board of Aldermen.
In addition to city officials, last night's protest drew doctors and nurses.
``The nurses don't want the community to be taken by surprise, we want to be
able to protect the services we provide,'' said Joanne Bartoszewicz, a
Whidden nurse, who helped organize the rally. ``Our patients and the
community come before the immediate needs of Hallmark.''
The area has lost several hospitals, including Malden Hospital, which
Hallmark turned into an urgent care center.
``All of the hospitals are taxed to the maximum already ... if there's a
disaster at the airport, where are people going to go?'' Abate said. ``If
there's a disaster with the bridge and the tunnel is closed, where are these
people going to go?''
The hospital had 35,000 emergency room visits last year and about 5,000
admissions.
Both sides agree that the financial troubles are because of federal and state
reimbursement rates that fall below the cost for providing health care to
Medicare and Medicaid recipients.
``We're not getting paid right,'' Scott said. ``You fix that and the problem
goes away.''
Copyright by the Boston Herald
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