Massachusetts Nurses Vote for "Alliances"

By Louis Pilla, nurses.com
6/14/2000

In late May, Pennsylvania and California nurses created an alliance as a step
toward building an independent national nurses movement for direct-care RNs.
Now, word comes that Massachusetts nurses are also interested in joining the
bandwagon. (See Pennsylvania Nurses Create New Collective Bargaining Unit.)

On June 1, the Cabinet for the labor program for the Massachusetts Nurses
Association (MNA) voted in favor of forming alliances with nurses
organizations that share values in patient advocacy, staff nurse leadership
for nurses, and opposition to unsafe healthcare restructuring. Although not
an official vote, this means that the cabinet gives its approval to forming
relationships before any disaffiliation vote separating the MNA from the
American Nurses Association (ANA), says Julie Pinkham, director of the labor
program for MNA.

The vote strengthens this burgeoning movement. Combined, the MNA, CNA, and
newly formed Pennsylvania group represent some 58,000 nurses.

Pinkham stresses that such an alliance is unprecedented. Never before, she
tells Nurses.com, has there been a time when large nursing organizations have
taken on industry issues.

Nursing, she says, has come to this point because it is "right up against the
wall" and patient care is being harmed. Without advocacy of this type, she
asserts, there will be "a race to the bottom."

Lack of confidence in ANA

Such a movement can't be music to the ears of the ANA, which will hold its
annual convention and house of delegates meeting later this month.The MNA
action is definitely not a vote of confidence for the group, Pinkham agrees.

In October 1999, she points out, the MNA labor body voted not to join the
United American Nurses (UAN), the labor entity approved at last year's ANA
house of delegates. Some 18,500 of the MNA's 21,000 members, she says, are
involved in collective bargaining agreements.

In March, a motion was put forward to disaffiliate with the ANA at an MNA
convention scheduled for November. Ongoing dialogue, she says, resulted in
the idea that the MNA should develop relationships with like-minded
organizations.

Five principles

Despite this, the MNA and the ANA are talking to each other. In fact, on June
12, the MNA labor program and the CNA met with members of the UAN, according
to Pinkham. The California and Massachusetts nurses brought up five
principles relevant to a national nursing movement. There was some, but not
full, agreement on those principles, according to Pinkham, which represent
"fundamental beliefs" from which to build a platform for further dialogue.

The principles, according to an interview with Pinkham:

1. Nurses should represent nurses.

2. New organizing efforts should be done by RNs and these efforts should put
nurses into a national organization of RNs.

3. Direct-care nurses must control nursing practice through all venues,
including legislation, regulation, collective bargaining, and do that without
interference by statutory supervisors.

4. Nurses must organize against all industry attempts to undermine nurses'
ability to control their practice, protect their patients, and retain their
primary role as patient advocates, and consistent with this is that
unorganized nurses must be helped to achieve an effective and protective
voice in their work settings.

5. National nurses organizations should, consistent with the individual role
of nurses, promote and control a healthcare agenda that transforms the
current unsuccessful market-driven healthcare model to one that provides
universal access and coverage.

For now, no further meeting is scheduled with the ANA, says Pinkham.

Copyright ©1996-2000
www.nurses.com

(Editor's Note: For ongoing developments, go to these sites:
<http://www.massnurses.org/> and <.)"http://www.califnurses.org/>.)

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For Immediate Release June 14, 2000

California's Largest RN Group Endorses Ralph Nader
CNA Cites Nader's Advocacy of a National Health Care Plan

The California Nurses Association today endorsed longtime consumer champion
Ralph Nader for President of the United States.

The announcement was made at a press conference in Washington D.C. where
Nader was joined by CNA's President Kay McVay, RN, and Executive Director
Rose Ann DeMoro.

With 31,000 members in over 100 hospitals, clinics and home health agencies,
CNA is the largest organization of registered nurses in California. At the
heart of CNA's endorsement, said McVay, is Nader's "outspoken stance on
behalf of an overhaul of the nation's health care system, and strong advocacy
of nurses' and patients' rights."

"Registered Nurses and R.N. - Ralph Nader - have a lot in common," said
McVay, standing before a banner reading, "RNs for R.N. - Nader for President."

"Both embrace a principled stand of advocacy for patients and consumers. Both
have a history of challenging the corporate might of the insurance and
hospital industry. Both have a history of fighting for public health and
safety."

"At a time when nearly 45 million Americans are uninsured," McVay said,
"Ralph Nader is the only candidate for President to stand for universal
health care, including a national health insurance plan that guarantees
access to full health care services for every man, woman and child in the
United States."

"As HMOs establish new gatekeeping barriers, and as hospital chains have cut
services and closed hospitals and emergency rooms, Ralph Nader has worked
tirelessly with nurses and patients, with CNA, and with other consumer
groups, to bring comprehensive health care services to everyone, regardless
of age, employment status, or ability to pay," said McVay.

"He has devoted his life to improving the human condition - and seeking ways
to assure availability of safe, quality, therapeutic health care for all is
central to that goal," McVay said.

"Ralph Nader," DeMoro added, "understands the absolute right of patients to
have nurses and doctors who are not constrained by corporate control of
medicine.

DeMoro said Nader "has been as consistent and powerful a proponent for nurses
as he has been for patients and the public interest."

Nader and CNA have worked together for years on behalf of sweeping health
care reform and patient protection measures, she noted.

Four years ago, Nader campaigned throughout California on behalf of Prop.
216, the Patient Protection Act, co-sponsored by CNA and Nader-ally Harvey
Rosenfeld. Though that measure lost, it was the model of many HMO reform
measures since adopted in California and other states, and most of its
provisions have now become law.

CNA's Board of Directors hope the endorsement will help bring Nader's message
to millions, and influence the public policy debate on badly needed health
care reform, DeMoro said.

"In the next few months, we have a rare opportunity to fundamentally change
the course of politics as usual in this country. Nader is a unique political
leader in his ability to inspire civic involvement, not cynicism, and we
believe his message will help encourage more people, especially the
disenchanted, to participate in the political process and vote," she said.

Like CNA, "Nader has grown increasingly inpatient with the distortion of our
health care system by private interests willing to sacrifice public health
for private gain. He has become a leading national critic of the cutthroat
policies of the HMOs, and a compassionate advocate for patients harmed by
corporate health care industry abuses," DeMoro noted.

Nurses, said McVay, "have seen too many people die needlessly, too many
people suffer, and too many families destroyed by inadequate access to care,
or routine denial of services. We believe that quality health care is a
fundamental human right."

"What makes Ralph Nader stand apart is his uncompromising commitment to a
comprehensive program for universal health care for all, and his
unwillingness to play politics on health care while peoples' lives hang in
the balance. He is the real thing, and he deserves the support of
caregivers," McVay said.

Contact: For CNA, Charles Idelson, 510-273-2246, (pg) 415-559-8991.
For the Nader campaign, Jake Lewis, 202-265-4000.

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Nurses Endorse Nader for President
Stands on patients' rights, health care praised

by Marc Sandalow, San Francisco Chronicle

June 15, 2000


Washington -- California's largest organization of nurses endorsed Ralph
Nader for president yesterday, becoming the first influential group to back
the consumer advocate's dark horse campaign.

The California Nurses Association (CNA), which has a long history of
endorsing Democratic candidates, praised Nader -- who is running as a member
of the Green Party -- for his support of patients' rights and universal
health care.

``Nurses love Ralph,'' said Rose Ann DeMoro, executive director of the CNA,
which has 31,000 members in over 100 hospital and health agencies throughout
the state.

The endorsement underscores the potential for Nader to chip away at support
for Vice President Al Gore, who has alienated some core Democratic voters --
particularly union members and liberals -- with his enthusiasm for free trade
and his incremental approach to expanding health care.

Though Nader's poll numbers barely register 5 percent nationally, that is
approximately the margin by which Gore trails Texas Gov. George W. Bush.

Few pollsters believe Nader is popular enough to alter the election's
outcome, but some analysts say the vote may be close enough that a strong
showing in a few key states could tip the electoral balance in Bush's favor.

Nader, who rails against the increasing domination of big business in
politics, received less than 2 percent of the vote during a run for the
presidency in 1996, in which he spent less than $5,000.

This time, he says he will spend more than $5 million, campaigning in all 50
states. He also said he is not bothered by the prospect of taking votes away
from Gore.

``On the central issue of corporate power,'' Nader said in an interview,
``the only difference between Gore and Bush is the velocity with which their
foreheads hit the floor when corporations knock on their door.''

He accused both of ``sucking up to Silicon Valley,'' and said they are
``competing for the presidency to see who will take the marching orders from
their corporate paymasters.

``If he doesn't want to compete on the agenda that I'm running on,'' Nader
added, ``he has to incur the consequences.''

A spokesman for the Gore campaign said the vice president also supports
universal health care, but believes a more realistic way to achieve it is by
starting with guaranteed coverage for children.

``We don't take any votes for granted, but we aren't really concerned about a
Nader insurgency,'' said Gore press secretary Doug Hattaway. ``We are
confident as people look at the record and agenda of all the candidates, the
smart vote -- especially for people who care about health care -- is for Al
Gore.''

Nader, acknowledging that the Gore camp does not seem to be losing sleep over
his candidacy, offered the following advice: ``Slumber on, Al Gore. Slumber
on.''

The nurses' endorsement was announced yesterday in Washington before a banner
that read, `Rns for R.N. -- Nader for President.' '

Nader has proposed a nationalized health care plan similar to that which now
exists in Canada, in which the federal government would make sure that
identical benefits were available to rich and the poor.

The program would be financed through a combination of payroll taxes, a tax
on stock transactions and a reduction in the health bureaucracy.

``At at time when nearly 45 million Americans are uninsured, Ralph Nader is
the only candidate for president to stand for universal health care,
including a national health insurance plan that guarantees access to full
health care services for every man, woman and child,'' said CNA president Kay
McVay.

Nader's candidacy has drawn support from some big name entertainers --
including Paul Newman, Jackson Brown, Bonnie Raitt and the Indigo Girls --
but the CNA endorsement is his first from an independent organization, his
campaign said.

California Democratic officials downplayed the chances of Nader's candidacy
having much impact in November.

``Ralph Nader is very popular among the left,'' said Art Torres, chairman of
the California Democratic Party. ``But he's not popular enough to sway an
election one way or the other.''

Some members of the nurses' union expressed dismay at the endorsement for a
candidate who is given almost no chance to win.

``I'm disappointed,'' said Helen Thompson, a registered nurse from Davis who
is also a Democratic assemblywoman. ``I think its a political and tactical
mistake. It worries me. Any organization as capable as the California Nurses
Association ought to have taken more time.''

Thompson, who is co-chair of a group called the California Nurses for Gore,
said the vice president has a proven record on health care issues, while
Nader ``has a lot of advocacy, but he hasn't ever been elected to see it
happen.''

Said Democratic Party spokesman Bob Mulholland: ``The vast majority of nurses
in California will be voting for Al Gore. Their future is not with the
Republican Party or with a college campus lecturer.''

©2000 San Francisco Chronicle

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

R.I. Hospital anticipates a strike by nurses' union

Wage scales and mandatory overtime are stumbling blocks to agreement
on a contract to replace the one expiring June 30, the union president says.

By FELICE J. FREYER, Providence Journal

June 15, 2000

Preparation is under way for the possibility of a nurses' strike at Rhode
Island Hospital, the state's largest hospital and the region's trauma center.

Yesterday, Health Department officials met with hospital administrators to
begin developing plans for patient care if a strike occurs, and the director
of the union that represents 1,700 nurses, technologists and other
professionals said the two sides remained far apart after a day of
negotiations on Tuesday.

The union, United Nurses and Allied Professionals, has scheduled a membership
vote for Monday, authorizing the negotiating team to give the hospital the
required 10-day notice of the intent to strike. No negotiating sessions are
scheduled before that vote, but five more are scheduled between the vote and
the contract's June 30 expiration.

Among the key issues separating the two sides are the practice of mandatory
overtime, which the union would like to end, and wage scales that the union
says are too low to recruit and retain enough staff, according to Linda
McDonald, UNAP president. Mandatory overtime was also the top issue in the
recent strike at St. Vincent's Hospital in Worcester. An agreement now limits
mandatory overtime and gives nurses the option to decline if they are too ill
or fatigued.

A work stoppage at Rhode Island Hospital would cause unprecedented disruption
of health care in the state, with more far-reaching implications than the
dispute at Women & Infants Hospital a year and a half ago.

Rhode Island Hospital, which encompasses Hasbro Children's Hospital, is the
region's only site for treating serious injuries and provides care not
available elsewhere in the state, including specialized orthopedic and
neurological surgery, advanced radiation oncology, and pediatric open-heart
surgery, as well as millions of dollars in free care to the poor.

The contract expires on the Friday before the Fourth of July weekend,
typically a busy time for the emergency department. Although July is not a
peak time for the hospital census, it is far from quiet; hospital spokeswoman
Linda Shelton said there are typically 400 to 450 adults and 70 to 80
children in the hospital at that time of year. July 1 is also the day when
new medical-school graduates arrive at the hospital to begin their residency
training.

Rhode Island Hospital has 5,000 employees. Its other union, the International
Brotherhood of Teamsters, represents 1,900 technicians and other workers --
who potentially could honor the UNAP picket line, leaving the hospital with
fewer than half its employees on the job. The Teamsters' contract expires
Sept. 30.

"A strike would have a major impact on patients and their families, on other
hospitals, as well as potentially the economy of the state," Shelton said.
"We are working very closely with the Department of Health to make sure that
we ensure the safety of our patients. That's foremost in our minds."

Shelton said that the hospital would keep the trauma center open "as much as
possible" but that the number of patients in hospital beds would be reduced.
It was not clear how many might be transferred to other hospitals, including
those in Boston.

Shelton said the hospital's plan includes hiring nurses from an agency. "It
just strikes us as really disgraceful," said Rick Brooks, UNAP's director,
"that they would prefer to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars, if not
millions, to fly in strikebreakers from other states rather than address
issues that were important to their employees."

Donald C. Williams, the Health Department's associate director for health
services regulation, said that the department had already received "a batch
of applications" from nurses seeking 90-day permits to work in Rhode Island
during the strike. The department will award the permits only to nurses who
have licenses in good standing in other states and have never been
disciplined. Additionally, anyone who previously obtained a temporary permit
but did not follow through with an application for full licensure will not be
granted a second permit, he said.

If the strike occurs, Williams said, Health Department staff will be at the
hospital for at least the first few shifts to make sure patients receive
adequate care. But because the department has no staff dedicated to
hospitals, the inspectors will have to be pulled away from other work,
probably nursing homes. "If the strike actually occurs," he said, "it will
deplete our ability in other areas."

The hospital is required to file a plan for how it will function without its
unionized workers; the plan will made public only after it is approved,
Williams said.

The current three-year contract has an unusual provision offering the
hospital a way to avert a strike if bargaining fails: The hospital can ask
for binding arbitration. Only the hospital can ask for the arbitration, but
if it does, the union must agree to it and not walk out.

If they went to arbitration, each side would submit its last best offer on
each of the unresolved issues, and on each issue, the arbitrator would choose
one or the other.

Asked about the arbitration option, Shelton said, "That decision hasn't been
made yet. That will continually be assessed."

"The union and the hospital are both committed to the best interests of
patients," said Edward J. Quinlan, president of the Hospital Association of
Rhode Island. "They probably have a disagreement as to how best to get to
their goal."

Quinlan noted that both the government and private insurers have been paying
hospitals less. "The resources are the critical issue here," he said. "The
resources and expectations right now aren't matching."

Copyright © 2000 The Providence Journal Company

(Editor's Note: For ongoing news of contract negotiations, go to
<http://www.unap.org/rih/contract2000.html>.)

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

Talks at Stalemate In Nurses' Strike
Stanford won't bend, union says

by Michael McCabe, San Francisco Chronicle

June 17, 2000

STANFORD -- Talks between representatives of Stanford University and 1,730
striking nurses yesterday broke for the weekend as negotiations appeared
deadlocked chiefly over salary.

Talks are scheduled to resume Monday.

As the strike at Stanford's two hospitals entered its 11th day,
representatives of the nurses union sounded pessimistic, saying they had
lowered their demands while the Stanford hospital negotiators refused to
budge.

``I just got word from my team, and it doesn't look good,'' said Kim Griffin,
a spokeswoman for the Committee for Recognition of Nursing Achievement, the
small union that represents the nurses.

Griffin said the nurses reduced their salary demands yesterday afternoon from
a 21 percent increase over two years to 17.5 percent -- a 9.5 percent raise
the first year and an 8 percent increase the second year.

She said hospital negotiators refused to budge from their offer of an 8
percent increase over two years, 4 percent for each year.

A hospital spokesman said last night that while details of the negotiations
were not available, talks are progressing.

``Going into talks today, the sticking points still revolved around salary,''
said Melodie Jackson, a spokeswoman for the hospitals.

Nurses have been walking picket lines outside Stanford Hospital and Lucile
Salter Packard Children's Hospital in Palo Alto since a 7 a.m. strike
deadline passed without a new contract June 7.

The hospital has postponed a number of elective surgeries that had been
scheduled in the pediatric units, as well as admissions of new patients whose
surgeries can wait, officials said. The hospitals have replaced the striking
nurses with about 500 temporary workers brought in from around the nation, a
move sharply criticized by the union as harmful to patient care.

``The last couple of negotiations (in previous years), we accepted way below
the cost-of-living increases in salary,'' Griffin said. ``Our feeling is that
the hospitals now want to waste millions of dollars a week on replacement
nurses, plus suffer lost revenue from decreased services, since not as much
surgery is going on right now.''

Jackson said the hospitals' base- salary increase offer amounts to $72,400
the first year and $75,300 the second year, for a full-time registered nurse.
The current average base salary, Jackson said, is $70,000.

(Editor's Note: For ongoing strike information, go to
<http://www.crona.org/strikefrontnews.html>.)

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