Bosley, Downing Nudge SEIU, Hospital Talks
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"We hope that both sides respond positively to our call, return to the negotiating table and come to a resolution with the best interests of Northern Berkshire in mind," Sen. Benjamin B. Downing and Rep. Daniel E. Bosley stated in a letter to both sides on Wednesday morning. They also asked 1199SEIU members to delay the strike set for Saturday.
But will 1199SEIU and Northern Berkshire Healthcare come to an agreement — or continue down the road to a crippling strike?
Talks between the two came to a halt last Thursday at 5 p.m. after the two sides hit an impasse. The health-care system responded with a full-page ad signed by its trustees in the local papers that union members felt blamed them for the system's $8.1 million shortfall. Service Employees International Union countered with a sharp series of radio and print ads targeting the administration — and President and CEO Richard Palmisano in particular.
With a strike set for Saturday and North Adams Regional Hospital making it very clear replacements will be ready to take over, the emotions are running high on both sides as any peek at the story comments will tell you.
The Downing and Bosley stepped into the possible path to mutually-assured destruction because, they said, of the hospital's importance to the community as "an essential community resource" and employer. But they weren't taking sides or laying blame.
"We're asking for them to pull back ... Both sides have to stop the public bickering," said Bosley shortly before Wednesday's press conference. "We have to figure out how to make NARH financially strong and that's going to be a challenge that everybody's got to back."
That means addressing much larger challenges at the state and federal level, he said, but first they have to get past the current labor negotiations.
In a short e-mail statement, hospital spokesman Paul Hopkins wrote, "We are looking forward to returning to negotiations and believe that the calmest, best way to resolve this will be at the bargaining table."
Union officials said they "enthusiastically welcome the involvement of Senator Downing and Rep. Bosley," thanking them for encouraging hospital administrators back to the table.
"We hope they will be productive and result in a settlement," wrote Michael O'Brien, a respiratory therapist and chairman of the local SEIU chapter.
However, he added, "There will be a series of union membership meetings for NARH workers today and tomorrow during which we will discuss next steps."
Hospital officials say they're ready if that next step is a strike.
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