Nurses Ratify Contract With North Adams Hospital
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The health-care system's board of trustees will adopt the contract next.
The agreement was reached during last-minute talks in the wee hours of Sept. 2. The MNA chapter at North Adams Regional Hospital that represents just over 100 registered nurses was to go on strike at 6 a.m. the next day if a contract couldn't be settled.
Both sides said the new agreement contains language that allows flexibility for staffing but maintains the quality of patient care and job stability for nurses.
The nurses retained the ability to refuse overtime if they are exhausted or too ill to provide safe patient care, said union officials in a statement. The nurses also protected language in the contract that states the hospital will not admit patients unless it has the staff to provide quality care.
"Management came to the table with over 100 concessionary demands and a very negative attitude that was perpetuated by the 'union avoidance' consultant they brought in from Ohio to conduct their negotiations," said local co-Chairwoman Ruth O'Hearn. "Their demands would have left us with little or no protection and would have made it impossible for us to stand up as advocates for our patients. Our members stood very strong and said these concessions were unacceptable."
"We knew that if management were able to prevail we would have had little or no control over our lives," said co-Chairwoman Mary McConnell. "We were able to retain our rights on mandatory overtime and other issues pertaining to scheduling. This was very important to us."
Union leaders said they kept the hospital and health-care system's continuing fiscal crisis in mind by not asking for wage or benefit increases. Northern Berkshire Healthcare is carrying an unhealthy debt load despite selling off its money-draining long-term care facilities, and exploring Chapter 11 reorganization. It's also in talks with Berkshire Healthcare about a possible merger.
"It is an exceedingly difficult climate in which to operate as a freestanding community hospital, but it is critically important that NARH remain strong enough to serve North Berkshire for many years to come," said President and Chief Executive Officer Richard Palmisano in a statement. "As a member of this community, I deeply appreciate that the members of the MNA listened carefully to our concerns, considered the role they could play in ensuring quality patient care in a financially sustainable way and made a decision that serves the long-term interests of NARH, our employees and our community."
According to the health system's statement, it is currently in the midst of a five-part financial stabilization plan which includes: modifying hospital operations to meet current patient care needs, divesting the hospital of non-core assets (achieved earlier this year with the sale of two senior care facilities), restructuring its debt obligations, pursuing Critical Access Hospital status, and exploring affiliation opportunities.
"The leadership has had to make tough decisions in order to right the financial ship in the face of national challenges in the world of healthcare," said board Chairman Bruce Grinnell. "I personally thank all of the nurses for making an equally difficult decision to put the long-term health of this hospital and the needs of our community first."
Both sides waged a war in the media to elicit community support. The nurses said the way the community rallied behind them made the difference in achieving a fair settlement.
"We especially want to thank the community for their overwhelming support. When we started this process we knew the community appreciated the care we provide, but as we went through negotiations it was very heartening to have so many neighbors and acquaintances offer their best wishes and support," said O'Hearn.
