SEIU Rallies to Support Sweet Brook Workers

By Tammy DanielsiBerkshires Staff
12:14AM / Tuesday, March 10, 2009Print Story | Email Story

Local 1199SEIU President Michael O'Brien addresses union members at Freeman Park on Monday. Left, a message to Northern Berkshire Healthcare's CEO.

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Dozens of members of 1199 Service Employees International Union, along with supporters from other local unions and even a contingent of students from Williams College, rallied at a park across the street from North Adams Regional Hospital on Monday.

The union members say Northern Berkshire Healthcare is placing obstacles in the way of employees trying to unionize at the Sweet Brook Care Centers nursing home, one of its subsidiaries. SEIU also represents the licensed practical nurses and other health-care workers at North Adams Regional Hospital.

Joining hospital and Sweet Brook workers was a good-sized contingent from SEIU in Boston and Albany, N.Y., IUE members from the former General Electric, professors from Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts, members of the North Adams Teachers Associaton, and students from Williams College, among others.

The group of around 60 stood in a circle at Freeman Park, chanting and banging blow-up batons in the chilly air as speakers ranging from SEIU state leaders to relatives of Sweet Brook residents to local teachers pumped them up.

"We had to witness our employer spend thousands upon thousands of dollars on union-busting consultants. What's that all about?" said an "angry" Lisa Marie Pisano, a worker at NARH. "What are the priorities of this administration? I for one have had enough of CEO's memos talking about people negatively affected by NBH employees standing up for themselves and our patients. That's what we care about."

SEIU has accused the health-care system of spending tens of thousands on legal counsel to block the participation of some 30 nursing staff at the Williamstown nursing home. NBH officials say those the workers are in supervisory capacities and thus do not qualify for union membership. The National Labor Board's Region 1 found against NBH last week but the health care system is appealing the ruling to the national board in Washington.

The election on whether to organize at Sweet Brook is scheduled for March 26.

"The leaders of Sweet Brook Transitional Care and Living Centers and Northern Berkshire Healthcare remain committed to ensuring that Sweet Brook employees are fully informed as they vote in the election that will determine if 1199SEIU will represent them," said Diane Cutillo, NBH vice president of external affairs, in a statement Monday.

In response to accusations of loose spending by NBH, Cutillo said SEIU "spends dues collected from members to employ full-time union organizers and attorneys.

"Retaining legal counsel to represent Sweet Brook and pursue NBH's understanding of the law in the NLRB process is not only warranted, but prudent," she said.

The hospital has been trying to close a $4.5 million budget gap for the coming year but its attempts to save costs by renegotiating contracts has been rebuffed by its two unions, SEIU and the Massachusetts Nurses Association. Northern Berkshire Healthcare President and CEO Richard Palmisano has said the failure to renegotiate so-called "legacy" benefits forced the hospital to layoff or reduce the hours of employees.

Local 1199SEIU President Michael O'Brien said the hospital rejected an offer by SEIU to help save costs. "We're not trying to pick a fight but [Palmisano] started it by telling the prss that we didn't accept his offer ... he threw down the gauntlet, we're just following up on it."

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Your Comments

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Sorry I wasn't able to be there with you. I'm very proud of our union and I am very much rooting for Sweet Brook and my former co-workers there! Great job everybody! Stay strong!
from: Proud Union Member	on: 03-10-2009 12:00AM I Agree (0) - I Disagree (0)

If Administration, at NBHS, stuck around for a while, instead of changing every couple of years - they would know that SEIU has a long history of not just working for them, but with them (labor/management meetings) to make NARH a cohesive workplace. How quickly they forget that it was SEIU that "took it on the chin" during our 2005-2007 contract and did not get a raise because the hospital was in financial straights. We didn't fare much better with our 2007-2009 contract for pretty much the same reason. All for the good of the hospital !! I hope the public realizes that while the nurses are a vital part of your care - it's the SEIU membership that cleans your room (GSA), prepares your food (Dietary), draws your blood (Lab), provides treatments/tests (Respiratory,EKG,EEG,Radiology,Rehab), takes you to and from test and the OR (Transport Aides), attends your personal needs - bathing,toileting, taking vital signs, dressing, changing linen etc.. (CNA), orders your tests/treatments (Unit Sec.), patient assignments (LPN) and the list goes on... The employees at Sweet Brook have asked nothing for themselves. All they want is a say in working with Administration for the good or their residents. I think that is pretty selfless. I implore the community to stand behind SEIU and back the employees at Sweet Brook. We're not the "bad guys" here. All we want is what's best for you. In unity...
from:	on: 03-12-2009 12:00AM I Agree (0) - I Disagree (0)

I have to comment on the part of this article where the CEO, Richard Palmisano, has blamed the 2 unions, at the hospital, for the recent lay off. I know for a fact that MNA (nurses) refused to reopen their contract. They voted on it and refused. That's their right. I also know, for a fact, that SEIU tried to work with the hospital. It was the hospital that refused SEIU's offer. Let's get the facts straight - Mr. Palmisano. Just because you say it - doesn't make it so. You know that SEIU tried to work with you - just like we have in the past. So let's review this money saving lay off. Administration has come away unscathed - again, although there's probably more administration at Northern Berkshire Healthcare, Inc. than there is under Obama. The non-union employees had no say and were forced to use their accrued benefit time to get it off the books. The nurses refused to co-operate with you and received a overall 10 hr. reduction in nursing hours. So you cut from the bottom. The people affect by the lay off are the ones that fall into the low to middle income bracket. And how much did you say you saved ? It makes one wonder if it isn't sour grapes. SEIU tries to help Sweet Brook organize so SEIU gets punished by getting the biggest hit in the lay off. Hmmm Oh, and I see you bring your little dog to work with you. He's not on the payroll as a mascot or anything is he ? That would surely cause hard feelings with the economy being what it is.
from: SEIU member	on: 03-13-2009 12:00AM I Agree (0) - I Disagree (0)

To all the employees looking for union representation- I wish you success! Please be strong and fight the fight. The administation/management will always make it difficult for those who support unions, but they are blind to the facts of why you need the union. There is far to much corporate greed in this world, and that is why Unions will be making a come back in the future. The rights of employees have been over looked for far too long. Good Luck guys!
from: kathy	on: 03-13-2009 12:00AM I Agree (0) - I Disagree (0)

Teacher of the Month: Kaylea Nocher

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
05:29PM / Saturday, April 04, 2026

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — First-grade students in Kaylea Nocher's class feel secure and empowered in the classroom, confidently embracing mistakes as they take charge of their learning.

This safe and fun atmosphere has earned Nocher the iBerkshires Teacher of the Month designation. The Teacher of the Month series, in collaboration with Berkshire Community College, features distinguished teachers nominated by community members. You can nominate a teacher here.

Nearly a dozen parents and colleagues nominated the Brayton Elementary School teacher, praising her dedication, connection to students, and engaging classroom environment — going above and beyond to foster growth in her students.

"My students are the most important part of the job, and instilling love and a love for learning with them is so valuable," she said.

"We have these little minds that we get to mold in a safe and loving environment, and it's really special to be able to do that with them."

Nocher has built her classroom on the foundation of love, describing it as the umbrella for all learning.

"If you have your students feel loved… in the sense that they have a love for learning, they have a love for taking risks, they have a love for themselves, and they can use that in everything that they do," she said.

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