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Nurses Postpone Strike Vote - October 12, 2007
NORTH ADAMS - The local chapter of the Massachusetts Nurses Association postponed a strike authorization vote set to take place on Thursday.
Negotiations between the registered nurses and North Adams Regional Hospital have been hung up over pension-plan and health-care coverage issues. The two sides aren't slated to come back to the negotiating table until Nov. 13.
Charlie Rasmussen, associate director of communications for the MNA, said in an e-mail on Thursday night that the vote was postponed because the negotiating committee wanted more information. However, several meetings were held Thursday and the nurses "are staying supportive and strong," he wrote.
Union members say they are being asked to make major concessions that will affect their health and retirement while the hospital's parent corporation, Northern Berkshire Healthcare, has paid millions in consulting fees and administrative severance packages.
The hospital is asking the union to accept a defined-contribution pension plan, which would take into account the amount employee contributions and other financial factors to determine the retirement benefit. The nurses currently have a defined-benefit plan, or one that guarantees a set return. Those nurses age 55 and older would not be affected.
NARH officials say the pension plan has to be changed because a federal law will require the hospital to put more than $1 million a year into it, doubling costs without providing any extra benefit to the nurses. Most organizations have already moved away from such plans, they say.
The union says the change would have a devastating effect on nurses who have been depending on the current plan for years. It also objects to a change in language in the health care plan that union officials say could compromise the level of coverage.
Both sides claim the other is distorting the truth. Negotiations for a new three-year contract have been ongoing since January. Earlier this year, the nurses called for a mediator and, in July, held an informational picket.
The other union at the hospital, 1199 SEIU, which covers licensed practical nurses and most of the other employees, agreed on a new two-year contract last week after only four negotiating sessions.
The MNA is expected to reschedule a strike authorization vote in the near future. |
| Well let's hope that they can come to some sort of agreement w/out ever having to take the strike vote b/c that is what's in everybody's best interest.. | | from: LISA | on: 10-12-2007 |
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