Jane Slaughter from Labor Notes has called our attention to the ongoing
strike by 600 Flint, Michigan, nurses against mandatory overtime. These
nurses are employed by the McLaren Regional Medical Center, and are members
of AFSCME Local 875. As the holidays approach, with health insurance
cancelled, scabs imported and permanent replacements sought, the Cabinet for
Labor Relations of the Massachusetts Nurses Association has sent out the call
for generous donations from all Massachusetts nurses, and from all who hear
this message. Donations and messages of solidarity should be sent to:

McLaren Registered Nurses Local 875
3025 Lyndon Avenue
Flint, Michigan 48504

For ongoing news of the strike, go to the strikers' web page
<http://www.afscme875.org> and the web site of the Flint Journal
<http://fl.mlive.com/news>.

Thanks, also, to Louis Pilla of Nurses.com for calling attention to the
plight of nurses in Poland struggling against privatization and downsizing.

-----------------------------------------

Unions turn out for nurses

by Shantell M. Kirkendoll, Flint Journal

December 5, 2000

FLINT - Autoworkers, cement workers, politicians, teachers and nurses clogged
the street in front of McLaren Regional Medical Center on Monday in a show of
solidarity for striking nurses, as hospital officials filed for a restraining
order to keep entrances clear of pickets.

About 2,000 people rallied on Ballenger Highway, and several unions brought
large checks along with picket signs.

"It's awesome," said Lori Potts, a striking recovery nurse. "What a boost for
nurses for all these people to show their support."

Meanwhile, McLaren filed a request for a restraining order in Genesee Circuit
Court Monday to force the people picketing to keep entrances cleared and to
refrain from intimidating visitors, staff and patients. A hearing was
scheduled for this morning, said Laurie Prochazka, McLaren spokeswoman.

She said there have been two reports of minor assaults, one on a visitor and
another on a staff member.

"It's not rampant or anything," Prochazka said. "The nurses themselves have
acted very responsibly overall. Some of the people joining them have caused
some problem. We certainly respect their right to picket. We just want to
ensure appropriate behavior is demonstrated."

The strike over pay raises and mandatory overtime began Nov. 8, and there is
no end in sight. No new bargaining sessions are planned.

Nurses are new to unions, but Flint's labor backbone is propping up spirits
and pocketbooks.

"We're going to be behind you for the long haul," said Ed Foy, assistant
director of Flint-based UAW Region 1-C.

Donations, such as $5,000 from UAW Local 598, will help nurses make ends
meet, said Rose Cooper, a striking nurse.

"Many nurses are single parents with only one income," she said.

Teamsters Local 332, which represents the nurses union at Genesys Medical
Center, collected $2,400 for the striking nurses.

Politicians, many of them Democrats who've relied on union support, made
appearances, including Genesee County Sheriff Robert J. Pickell, state Rep.
Deborah L. Cherry, D-Burton, and Dan Kildee, Genesee County treasurer and
chairman of the county Democratic Party.

Cars backed up for three blocks along Beecher Road, and two southbound lanes
of Ballenger were closed during the rally. About a dozen police patrolled the
area on foot and horseback.

Emergency room nurse Glenn Pace held a sign saying "It's your life. Do you
want a tired nurse?" as he stood beside police officers who were trying to
direct traffic through the throng of picketers.

"They aren't here just because we're all union," Pace said of the crowds. "I
think they're getting behind us because health is a personal issue affecting
everyone. We're the ones caring for them."

Autoworker Mike Richards, who has donated handwarmers to nurses, said the
demonstration sent a message to the hospital "that the community is behind
nurses."

Striking nurse anesthetist Renee Brookshire brought her children, ages 7 and
5, to the rally.

"I wanted them to see what happens and what's possible when people are
united," Brookshire said.

"It's been said that hospital didn't expect us to be out here this long,"
said Alan Napier, president of AFSCME Local 875, which represents the
striking nurses. "Well, we're still out here and we're getting stronger."

Local 875 is exercising a right to reopen a two-year contract. The hospital
believes only wages are eligible for discussion.

The last bargaining session was an abrupt meeting Nov. 15 in which McLaren
refused to discuss overtime. Rather than hash over it during contract
negotiations, McLaren wants an arbitrator to determine if nurses are forced
to work too many hours.

"Our offer of binding arbitration still stands," Prochazka said. "Since both
sides are standing quite firm on overtime, binding arbitration seems
appropriate."

Napier said the union also is willing to enter an arbitration agreement, but
it's unclear what's preventing it from beginning. He has said McLaren can't
be trusted to follow the arbitrator's decision, and if an arbitrator rules in
McLaren's favor, overtime might escalate.

Mandatory overtime is an issue affecting many nurses, said Pat Merenda, a
nurse at Detroit Medical Center who rallied Monday.

"Nurses can't give good care if they are forced to work double shifts,"
Merenda said. "Insurers and others are cutting back payments, but hospitals
are not looking for other solutions to save money besides making nurses work
more."

The strike, while bitter in rhetoric at times, has been peaceful otherwise.

However, some neighbors and patients have complained about the noise
generated from around-the-clock demonstrations, pickets and horn-blowing
motorists, ambulances and trucks.

Motorists have been asked to flash their headlights after 8 p.m. to show
their support rather than honk horns. When the strike began, horns blared all
day and night.

McLaren Strike Day 28

.Who's on Strike: About 600 registered nurses employed at McLaren Regional
Medical Center and its affiliated doctor's office, home health and hospice
services, kidney center and cancer center.

.Issues: Pay raises and mandatory overtime.

Shantell M. Kirkendoll covers health. She can be reached at (810)766-6366 or
skirkendoll@flintjournal.com.

Copyright 2000 Michigan Live Inc.

-------------------------------------------------

McLaren seeks replacements

by Shantell M. Kirkendoll, Flint Journal

December 10, 2000

McLaren Health Care Corp. says it is ready to hire permanently replacements
for its registered nurses out on strike.

"The postings are for permanent positions," said Debra Williams, McLaren's
chief human resources officer. "Following the language of the contract, we
are allowed to hire permanent replacements. We're pleased with the quality of
care given by the replacement nurses (hired temporarily through a staffing
agency), but it's not cost-effective. We need our own staff."

The job postings went up on bulletin boards inside McLaren on Thursday.

Nurses picketing at the hospital this weekend said they were unfazed and
considered the job postings an attack and diversion from settling the
contract.

"McLaren's not going to find 600 nurses," said nurse Carol Taylor.

The company could be wiping out any guarantee nurses will go back to the same
job they had before the strike began Nov. 8; new hires won't be let go when
the strike ends, Williams said.

"Re-entry will have to be worked out in negotiations," she explained. "At the
point that they settle, recruitment would end."

But is there real chance of filling the jobs during a nationwide nursing
shortage when finding even 10 new nurses is a chore?

It's smoke and mirrors, claimed Alan Napier, president of AFSCME Local 875,
the nurses union.

"They can't be serious about trying to replace all of us," Napier said. "We
view this as a scare tactic to get us to give in."

The strike is moving into a fifth week with no end in sight.

Scare tactic or not, as each day passes, more nurses find permanent work
elsewhere. A Detroit-area hospital is offering $5,000 signing bonuses.
Applications have been passed out in the picket lines.

Williams indicated three striking nurses have resigned. Napier said as many
as 50 will eventually quit.

"They're just done and won't go back," he said, referring to ill will created
during the strike.

Jan Forrester, a veteran McLaren nurse, said she's seen the posting and
wishes McLaren had done more recruiting months ago.

An outstanding issue in negotiations is mandatory overtime. Nurses say they
have exhausting schedules that compromise patient care and safety. They have
asked that more people be hired.

"Hey, maybe when this is all over we'll have the staff we need," Forrester
said.

There were only a few vacancies when the strike started, hospital officials
say, and they were recruiting for those jobs.

About 250 replacement nurses have been hired to work at McLaren through the
Denver-based U.S. Nursing Corp. staffing agency.

McLaren officials have not revealed the cost of replacement nurses, but based
on published salary offerings, the temporary workers come at a high price.

In advertisements, U.S. Nursing offers prospective nurses $3,000 to $4,000 a
week. McLaren is also reponsible for nurses' airfare to Michigan, if needed,
rooms at a Detroit-area hotel, transportation to work and meals.

Shantell M. Kirkendoll covers health. She can be reached at (810)766-6366 or
at skirkendoll@flintjournal.com.***

© 2000 Michigan Live. All rights reserved.

----------------------------------------

Nurses worry about health coverage

by Shantell M. Kirkendoll, Flint Journal

December 10, 2000

Cancer treatments, surgeries, doctor's appointments. They are all on hold as
striking nurses navigate something they should know a lot about: health care
coverage.

About 600 McLaren Health Care Corp. nurses who are on strike face living, at
least temporarily, without health coverage. The hospital canceled the
insurance Nov. 30.

A check for $12,000 - a donation courtesy of the Registered Nurses and
Registered Pharmacists of Hurley Medical Center - is ready to pay for
reinstatement of the nurses' insurance but McLaren hasn't notified nurses yet
about how to start the process.

"Even if they don't want to bargain, let's at least get the insurance worked
out," said Alan Napier, president of AFSCME 875, the nurses' union.

They want answers and say McLaren is stalling. They aren't even sure if
$12,000 is enough for all who need to continue coverage.

With no bargaining sessions planned, there is no end in sight for the strike.

Debra Williams, McLaren's chief human resources officer, said the company is
compiling the insurance payment information and will provide it well within
the 45-day period the law requires. The period began when coverage ended.

McLaren has until Jan. 15 to send notices and they could be mailed in a week
or two, Williams said.

After notification is sent, nurses would have 60 days to decide whether they
want coverage and get the premiums paid. Coverage would be retroactive to
Nov. 30.

What nurses would pay are COBRA, or Consolidated Omnibus Budget
Reconciliation Act, premiums.

It entitles ex-employees of companies with 20 or more workers to continue to
receive coverage under the group plan for 18 months after leaving, if they
pay the full cost of the coverage.

Companies are given plenty of time to compile the information in case the
worker is out of state or there are large numbers to process, said Dr. Craig
Copeland of the Washington, D.C.-based Employee Benefit Research Institute.

He explained that employees are offered a group rate and the same amount of
benefits.

"Today is Dec. 8 and cancellation was last Thursday," Williams said Friday.
"It would have been improper to send the information before termination."

In the meantime, Williams said, any required medical treatment could be paid
for out-of-pocket for later reimbursement by the insurance company.

That could be reasonable since most hospitals don't require upfront payments
for major surgeries, Copeland said. But it is still a hassle for workers who
must convince health-care providers to take care of them, and not everyone
has the money to pay for prescriptions that can cost thousands of dollars a
month, he said.

"Technically, they don't have insurance and that's one of the first things
people are asked about when they walk in a doctor's office," Copeland said.

Notices must go to nurses as well as any dependents covered by their
insurance policies for dental, health and vision coverage.

"We're working as quickly as we can. It's a labor-intensive process,"
Williams said. "But we have no intention of waiting until the last minute."

She could not say how much coverage would cost per nurse.

Union officials are suspicious.

"They've been horrible," said Charlotte Novak, president of the Hurley union
that made the donation. "The nurses were most concerned about health care
benefits and that's why we made this kind of contribution. Especially at this
time of year, you don't want to be without coverage."

If the strike lingers, Novak said the union will vote again on whether to
send more money.

"We're got to take care of each other. They're fighting for issues affecting
all nurses," Novak said.

The Hurley union has been independent for 10 years and isn't compelled to
share its member dues with a parent union. It's been in existence since 1967.

McLaren nurses have been organized since 1996, but they've been receiving
cash donations to get them through the strike.

Contributions from other unions, such as the $5,000 a week given by a UAW
local, help pay for prescription drugs nurses and their families need, said
Bonnie Donaldson, chief steward of Local 875.

Shantell M. Kirkendoll covers health. She can be reached at (810) 766-6366
orskirkendoll@flintjournal.com.***

© 2000 Michigan Live. All rights reserved.

-------------------------------------------

Flint: Striking McLaren nurses file complaint

by Ken Palmer, Flint Journal

December 13, 2000

Striking nurses have filed a complaint with the National Labor Relations
Board, saying McLaren Health Care Corp. is stalling the process to reinstate
their medical insurance.

The hospital canceled insurance for the 600 registered nurses Nov. 30 and has
until Jan. 15 to send notices that would allow the strikers to pay for
reinstatement of the coverage.

AFSCME Local 875 says McLaren could process the notices more quickly but
wants to pressure the strikers.

"They are using it as a lever against us to get us back to the table and get
back to work," said Alan Napier, president of the nurses union. "I don't feel
you should use people's health insurance ... as leverage against your
employees in a strike."

Through the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act, strikers could
continue their coverage for up to 18 months under their group plan if they
pay the cost.

McLaren has said it is compiling the insurance information and will send it
within a couple of weeks.

© 2000 Michigan Live. All rights reserved.

------------------------------------------

Polish nurses stage partial-day strike in escalation of pay protests

by Beata Pasek, Associated Press

December 5, 2000

WARSAW, Poland. -- Nurses in dozens of hospitals across Poland stopped work
for several hours Wednesday, escalating a monthlong protest for higher pay
and better working conditions.

Among the hardest hit areas was Lublin in the southeast, where doctors and
supervisors had to take over patient care temporarily in about one-quarter of
the region's 100 hospitals, the Polish news agency PAP reported.

Though most hospitals were not directly affected, the walkout signaled
growing anger among nurses who steadily have intensified protests and sit-ins
over the past month.

"It's a sign of our bitterness and determination. We are in a very bad
financial situation," said Ewa Czyzykowska, a nurse at a hospital in the
central Polish town of Jozefrow. "We have always tried to work in an ethical
way, but our salaries have always been a secondary matter."

Full-time nurses make only about 700 zlotys (dlrs 155) a month, well below
the national average of 2,000 zlotys (dlrs 445). They are demanding monthly
pay increases of 200 to 500 zlotys (dlrs 44 to dlrs 110).

Their anger is rooted partly in efforts to reform the health care system
inherited from the old communist regime. With most hospitals deeply in debt,
managers have been reluctant to enter wage talks.

The government agreed to talks with nurse leaders later Tuesday, but insisted
on limiting discussion to changes in the health system, not one-time pay
raises.

Health care reforms last year created special management boards to administer
money deducted from paychecks nationwide to pay for hospitals and clinics.
Previously, the money came from general government funds.

Nurses and doctors say that not enough was allocated for hospitals and
clinics. The government contends that hospitals need to be restructured and
their staffs trimmed to operate more efficiently.

Copyright 2000 Associated Press, All rights reserved

-----------------------------------------------

Poland's frustrated nurses escalate walkouts to demand fair pay

by Monika Scislowska, Associated Press

December 13, 2000

WARSAW, Poland. -- Poland's notoriously underpaid nurses are having trouble
getting their message across to the government, but 4-month-old Weronika
Szuba was feeling some of their pain Wednesday morning.

Cranky and ravenous after fasting before scheduled hip surgery, she gulped
with joy when her mother finally gave her a bottle of milk after nurses at
Warsaw's Provincial Children's Hospital walked off their jobs.

"I don't blame the nurses. They earn so little for all their duties and
responsibility," Weronika's 25-year-old mother, Katarzyna, said after the
operation was called off. "I am only sorry for Weronika that she was on this
fast for nothing."

Polish nurses have been staging sporadic demonstrations and warning strikes
for a month, but this week things are turning uglier.

About 50,000 of the country's 250,000 nurses and midwives walked off their
jobs for four to eight hours Wednesday, and the strike was expected to grow,
said Ewelina Pilat, deputy head of the All-Poland Nurses and Midwives Union.
Nearly half the 25,000 nurses in the Warsaw region took part.

A sit-in at the Health Ministry, where 300 nurses forced their way through
the main entrance Tuesday, grew to 600 protesters overnight as union leaders
demanded wage talks with the government.

There were widespread reports of surgery cancellations, and many hospitals
were accepting only emergency admissions.

Though the action fell short of a full-blown strike, union leaders say they
intend to escalate sit-ins and partial walkouts until they get results.

The health minister agreed to a meeting Wednesday, but prospects for a
resolution were unclear.

Almost everybody agrees that Polish nurses are sorely underpaid, but nobody
is sure how to fund raises as the country struggles to reform and streamline
its communist-era health sector.

Jolanta Andrzejewska, 46, chief nurse of the surgery ward at the Children's
Hospital, said she makes only 900 zlotys (dlrs 204) a month after 24 years in
the profession. The average salary for Polish workers is 2,000 zlotys.

"Our wages don't even suffice for rent, gas and electricity," she said.

Iwona Jagiello, 33, chief nurse at the Bogdanowicz Hospital in Warsaw said
she hears criticism that it is "not ethical to walk out on patients."

"But is it ethical to pay us so little, to leave us no money to buy our
children things for Christmas?" she said.

Like most of Poland's state-run health centers, the Children's Hospital is
poorly financed. An appeal for private donations is displayed prominently in
the admissions room.

The nursing unions, meanwhile, are struggling to press their demands without
seeming insensitive to helpless patients. Some nurses at the Children's
Hospital cut short their strike Wednesday to assist in surgery on a
10-year-old girl with acute appendicitis.

So far, cash-strapped hospital managers seeking to cut their staffs have been
reluctant to discuss new wage packages. Government officials say the are
willing to discuss general health care reforms, but not salary increases.

"We are still waiting for the government to enter talks with us," the union
official, Pilat, said. "We would like the protest to be over by Christmas."

Copyright 2000 Associated Press, All rights reserved

--------------------------------------------

Web Directory:

Sandy's Links <http://users.rcn.com/wbumpus/sandy>
Massachusetts Nurses Association <http://www.massnurses.org>
California Nurses Association <http://www.califnurses.org>
Massachusetts Labor Party <http://www.masslaborparty.org>
Nurse Advocate <http://www.nurseadvocate.org>
UnionTalk4Nurses <http://www.uniontalk4nurses.org>
Striking Flint Nurses' Union <http://www.afscme875.org>
Labor Notes <http://www.labornotes.org>
Nurses.com
<http://www.nurses.com/content/hubs/dir.asp?hub=news>

--------------------------------------------

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