Year 2 Step Freeze and 2% Across the Board for All Nurses

MNA NEGOTIATION UPDATE (March 3, 2016)

NEGOTIATION SESSIONS WERE HELD ON FEBRUARY 26 AND 29. VERY LITTLE PROGRESS WAS MADE AS THE HOSPITAL IS STILL PROPOSING THE FOLLOWING CONCESSIONS:

1. SALARY: YEAR 1 – NO ACROSS THE BOARD INCREASE. YEAR 2 – STEP FREEZE AND 2% ACROSS THE BOARD FOR ALL NURSES. THE HOSPITAL STATED THAT THEY “THINK THIS PROPOSAL WOULD BE AGREEABLE TO THE NURSES.”

2. NEWLY-HIRED NURSES WOULD BE FORCED INTO BENEFIT TIME AND FLEX INSURANCE.

3. INCREASE IN VARIABLE HOUR POSITIONS AND NEWLY-HIRED NURSES WOULD BE FORCED TO REMAIN IN VARIABLE HOUR POSITIONS FOR 4 YEARS (INSTEAD OF THE CURRENT 2 YEARS).

4. NO CONTRACT LANGUAGE ON SAFETY AND SECURITY ISSUES EXCEPT LANGUAGE ALLOWING 2 MNA NURSES TO PARTICIPATE IN A HOSPITAL-WIDE SECURITY COMMITTEE.

CONTRACT EXTENDED UNTIL THE NEXT SESSION ON MARCH 16.

WATCH FOR INFORMATION ON AN OPEN MEETING TO DISCUSS JOB ACTIONS.

SEE BACK PAGE FOR MORE DETAILS  SALARY: At our two recent sessions, the Hospital reiterated that they are not willing to spend any money beyond the cost of the steps. As you know, they proposed early in the process to either continue paying step increases or freeze the steps and give everyone 2%. We rejected that proposal as a step freeze represents a major take-away. The MNA is currently proposing 3% across the board with a new top step. The hospital is citing severe financial concerns but we know that the 5 highest paid Partners employees received an average of 23% from 2013 to 2014 and the same group received 42% between 2011 and 2014.

BENEFIT TIME & FLEX INSURANCE: The hospital’s proposals to force all new nurses into Benefit Time and Flex insurance would result in having two- tiered benefit systems in our contract. This would cause divisiveness in the bargaining unit between new and more senior nurses and would also embolden the hospital to seek additional take-aways in the future.

SAFETY & SECURITY: We have made 19 safety and security proposals. While the hospital has implemented some improvements, they are steadfastly refusing to commit to any of these changes in writing, and instead, continues to propose MNA participation on a hospital-wide safety committee as an alternative to negotiation on these issues.

VARIABLE HOURS POSITIONS: The hospital is proposing to increase the hospital-wide cap on Variable Hours positions even though 99% of all positions currently posted are Variables. In addition, they want to force new nurses to remain in their Variable positions for 4 years. They are pushing hard for these changes even though they cancelled less than 1% of the available Variable shifts last year.

PARKING: We are continuing to propose a freeze on parking rates.

WE ARE COMMITTED TO MAINTAINING YOUR CONTRACT BENEFITS, ACHIEVING A FAIR SALARY INCREASE AND PROTECTING YOUR HEALTH AND SAFETY. PLEASE CONTACT ANY MNA COMMITTEE MEMBER WITH ANY QUESTIONS.

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