NARH Says Prepared for Strike Action

Staff ReportsiBerkshires
11:48PM / Tuesday, December 01, 2009Print Story | Email Story

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — North Adams Regional Hospital officials say they're ready to bring in "qualified replacement employees" if workers walk out.

The local chapter of 1199SEIU voted overwhelmingly on Monday to authorize a strike should contract negotiations go nowhere with Northern Berkshire Healthcare, the hospital's parent corporation. NBH received the 10-day notice of intent on Tuesday, making the effective strike date Saturday, Dec. 12.

"This is a very unfortunate step taken by the SEIU. No one wins in a strike," said Richard Palmisano, president and CEO of Northern Berkshire Healthcare, in a statement. "If the SEIU actually implements the strike in 10 days, the hospital will be ready to provide high-quality, health-care services to our patients without interruption."

The hospital's management team began preparing for a strike as soon as it "became a possible outcome of negotiations," he said, adding that the health system's hired what he described as "a national firm with experience in helping hospitals manage strikes."

According to Palmisano, the hospital will continue function normally and will bring qualified replacement employees to appropriately staff all units and departments.

"Our Emergency Department, surgical services, nursing units, and all outpatient services will be ready to welcome patients," said Billie Allard, vice president of patient care services at NARH. "We have pledged to provide care to our community, and the hospital will fulfill that pledge."

In the meantime, Palmisano said, the hospital remains committed to resolving the contract dispute with the SEIU.

Service Employees International Union members say NBH is asking for permanent contract changes that will drastically cut benefits and no longer guarantee working hours; NBH officials say concessions are imperative as the health system struggles with a $8.1 million shortfall.

"Despite our sincere desire to avoid a strike and our willingness to work with them at the bargaining sessions, the SEIU has chosen this course," Palmisano said. "Our health systems' challenges are substantial and must be addressed on all fronts. We continue to hope the SEIU will come to recognize the reality of our circumstances and join us in finding solutions."

iBerkshires.com Text Ads

RIBCO Supply

Check out our great lineup of Boss Plows, and spreaders. 2 Locations Clarksburg & Pittsfield!

ribcosupply.com

rk MILES Blding Materials

Are You Ready to Update Your Home? Start With rk MILES. 4 Locations (800)670-7433

www.rkmiles.com

If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.

Your Comments

iBerkshires.com welcomes critical, respectful dialogue. Name-calling, personal attacks, libel, slander or foul language is not allowed. All comments are reviewed before posting and will be deleted or edited as necessary.

Funny how you can't afford to keep our contract in tact "Mister" Palmisano, but yet you CAN afford to pay 174 scabs 3 times what you are paying us. Hmmmmm......can anyone say Bulls**t!!!!???
from: SEIU Member	on: 12-02-2009 12:00AM I Agree (0) - I Disagree (0)

The hospital will spent big bucks for these replacement scabs. Per diem, salaries, and overhead costs don't come cheap. The public should demand to know how much the morally bankrupt hospital is spending on these scabs that will not heal the hospital's self-inflicted wounds. It's nice to know that our health care industry makes a living via companies that provide scab workers to hospital elite administrators. Maybe the hospital should figure out why they are failing. Do the Williamstown elite utilize other hospitals? Was too much spent on unnecessary buildings? The Bennington, VT hospital seems to be doing ok.
from: Scary Hospital	on: 12-02-2009 12:00AM I Agree (0) - I Disagree (0)

at least their is one intelligent and compasonate leader who truly cares about the patients,the hospital,and the employees and that is BILLIE ALLARD.to bad she is not the CEO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!l
from: seiu employee	on: 12-02-2009 12:00AM I Agree (1) - I Disagree (0)

Hey Scary Hospital...are you that clueless? Do you have any idea what happened in Bennington this past year?
from: Bereft of Intelligence	on: 12-02-2009 12:00AM I Agree (0) - I Disagree (0)

The Bennington hospital is doing OK? Do you read the papers? They have a multi-multi million dollar problem there. Editor: SVMC was looking at a $22M deficit that's dropped to $8M.
from: say what?	on: 12-02-2009 12:00AM I Agree (0) - I Disagree (0)

Not to quibble, but the story about Bennington says $12 million is "no longer considered operating losses." So what is that $12 million counted as? Non-operating? NARH's operating loss is only half of Bennington's. Editor: Exactly my reaction. Is not a loss? Does it not count? The story doesn't make that clear at all.
from: say what?	on: 12-02-2009 12:00AM I Agree (0) - I Disagree (0)

Maybe what Bennington is doing is admitting that they were using capital improvement spending to cry poor and justify nurse pay cuts much like NARH may be doing, but then Bennington realized what they were doing was immoral.
from: Scary Hospital	on: 12-02-2009 12:00AM I Agree (0) - I Disagree (0)

Mr. Palmisano has held meetings to let everyone know the financial situation here at NARH. It's no secret that NARH is struggling! As a non union employee I have already taken the cuts that Mr. Palmisano is asking the union employees to take. I don't mind helping out my employer that has been so good to me. I feel lucky to have a job at such a wonderful hospital. The union people need a shot of reality!
from: 1 Non Union Employee	on: 12-06-2009 12:00AM I Agree (0) - I Disagree (0)

Has the CEO asked you to go home early or not to come in without pay? I highly doubt it. Plus the union has given and given for the last 6 years that I have worked there so please don't say that we have not. It is not our fault that Palmisano did not do what Cambio said would help the hospital. Soon as Cambio left everything went right back to the old ways what a waste of millions of dollars.
from: seiu member	on: 12-06-2009 12:00AM I Agree (0) - I Disagree (0)

My hours were cut!
from: 1 Non Union Member	on: 12-07-2009 12:00AM I Agree (0) - I Disagree (0)

Could one of the local papers/websites please report on what the MANAGEMENT (i.e. CEO, President, VPs) are sacrificing on their end to help NBH? Are they willing to take a cut in pay or do anything that they are asking the SEIU employees to do? Editor: OK, took forever to find this article for some reason, but it relays some of the cuts to the nonunion employees.
from: Lady	on: 12-07-2009 12:00AM I Agree (0) - I Disagree (0)

Yes maybe they gave up a small raise. But we gave up 2 years of raises and 2 years of step raises for the hospital and we don't make half as much as them. Now they want to send us home without pay and call us up and tell us not to come in. That is a lot more then the 2% raise they gave up. Rick just wants to bust the union. Sorry!!!!!!!!!not going to happen in my life time
from: seiu member	on: 12-07-2009 12:00AM I Agree (0) - I Disagree (0)

Editor: I have had to delete or edit comments because of inappropriate content. No name calling or slanderous allegations allowed. We encourage discourse but postings simply trashing either party don't help anyone.
from:	on: 12-08-2009 12:00AM I Agree (0) - I Disagree (0)

Veteran Spotlight: Marine Corp. Tim Woodward

By Wayne SoaresSpecial to iBerkshires
05:17PM / Sunday, February 15, 2026

FALMOUTH, Mass. — Tim Woodward served his country in the Marine Corps as a corporal from 1983 to 1987.

Having grown up with Tim, you knew he was the type of person who would succeed at whatever he attempted. His drive and discipline set him apart from his peers, even at a young age. He would have four college acceptances after graduating from Falmouth High School, but put them on hold to enlist in the Marines, where he did his basic training at Parris Island, S.C.

"It was definitely an eye opener," he said. "I had some pretty good preparation as my father and uncle were Marines. It was a lot of work, more mental than physical, and a lot of people weren't prepared for that.

"I wasn't fearful. It was about earning the title of U.S Marines. I'm proud of the fact that I was selected for just about every leadership position in my platoon, including Honor Man. I had a great time."

Woodward's first assignment would take him to the former Naval Air Station Memphis in Tennessee for aviation electronics training through a rolling admissions program.

"Made it all the way through — I was pretty good at troubleshooting. I always wanted to fly jets but ended up working on them," he said. "After schooling, I was sent to Whidbey Island, north of Tacoma and Seattle, Wash., where I was attached to Navy Squadron VAQ-129, where I learned to test the electronics on the Grumman EA 6B Prowler.

"I also did five months with VAQ-29. I remember when you drove into the base the sign overhead said, 'EXCUSE OUR NOISE, IT'S THE SOUND OF FREEDOM,'" Woodward said. "I had a chance to climb on the jets, wash them like your car, walk on the wings — lots of good memories."

View Full Story