With the front entrance to the UVMMC hospital as a backdro, a few hundred striking VFNHP nurses listen to speakers in front of the UVM medical school Thursday morning. VBM photos.
by Timothy McQuiston Vermont Business Magazine The University of Vermont Medical Center nurses went on strike this morning at 7 am. This is the first nurses' strike in the hospital's history. The 1,800 nurses will strike for 48 hours and then go back to work without a contract pending further action. Nurses are scheduled to strike during what would be their usual shifts.
Talks between the two sides broke down late Wednesday night after several days of late-night negotiations in an effort to avert the labor action. Talks on a new three-year contract began in March. Nurses have complained of staffing shortages and wages not commensurate with peers in similar hospitals. The wage issue also affects turnover and exacerbates staffing problems, they've said.
They've asked for a 23 percent raise over three years, while the hospital has countered with an average 13 percent increase. The difference for RNs, for instance, would result in an average wage of about $84,000 under the hospital's proposal and $92,000 under the union's.
Nurses, represented by the Vermont Federation of Nurses &Health Professionals,will strike at the main campus hospital as well as at the Fanny Allen offices in Colchester and at other satellite offices in the area, as well as for a short time at the Central Vermont Medical Center in Berlin, though nurses there are not part of thestrike. CVMC is a member of the same University of Vermont Health Network.
A smaller contingent of nurses set up on the Colchester Avenue hospital entrance.
The hospital earlier this week brought in nearly 600 replacement nurses to cover for the striking nurses. The hospital maintains that the only disruption will be the re-scheduling of about half (68) the elective surgeries. All emergency and critical care services will be fully operational.
Staffing levels at the hospital remain at typical levels on the first day of the strike.UVMMC spokesman Michael Carrese told VBM: "We had the same number of nurses in the hospital today as we would on any other day (which fluctuates according to patient census).275 in the hospital, and 90 in the outpatient clinics to be precise."
UVM Medical Center President Eileen Whalen said in a statement Thursday: "This morning, the union representing our nurses began a 48-hour strike after we were unable to meet their demand for a 23% raise over the next three years. We have activated our comprehensive plan to continue providing the highest quality care to our patients and families.
"At 7 am, hundreds of contingency nurses moved smoothly into place throughout the hospital. Clinical and operations leaders are working together in the Incident Command Center, which will be active for the duration of the strike. We have received no reports of problems with patients, visitors or staff accessing our facilities. The vast majority of patients will not see an impact in terms of their appointments. Anyone who has not heard from their doctor’s office should plan on keeping their appointments for later today and tomorrow."
Whalen said Wednesday any nurses would be welcome to work instead of joining the strike. Michael Carrese, UVMMC spokesman, told VBM Thursday: "More than 100 signed up to come to work. We have not done an actual head count."
In an automated message to community members received on home phones Wednesday night, the union said it was going on strike and gave a brief explanation. The message also said in part,"We invite you to join us on the picket lines as we continue to fight for the resources needed to provide quality care for you, our patients."
Union Vice President Deb Snell and lead negotiator Julie MacMillan hosted a rally at noon featuring nurses from Champlain Valley Physician's Hospital in Plattsburgh, NY, and Baystate Franklin Medical Center in Greenfield, MA - where nurses just settled a contract after a year of negotiations and two strikes. Senator Bernie Sanders also called in to offer his support.
Nurses are preparing for a march in downtown Burlington at 5:30 pm Friday.
The following statements were issued by the two sides after 10:30 pm Wednesday.
Statement fromUVM Medical Center President Eileen Whalen:
"Despite months of face-to-face negotiations culminating with hours of bargainingtonight, the UVM Medical Center and the union representing our nurses were not able to reach agreement on a new contract. We’re disappointed the union did not change its position, and continued to insist on a raise of 23% over the next three years.
"This a moment the hospital team hoped would never come. We begantonight’ssession hopeful we could avert a strike. We increased our offer of a 13% raise to 14% -- 6% in the first year, and 4% each in years two and three. I came to the bargaining table myself to communicate the respect we have for our nurses, and to demonstrate our commitment to reaching a resolution.
"During this process, we listened and acted on many union requests. We doubled our initial wage offer. We offered to move to a 19-month contract. We accelerated the timeline for bringing the wages of outpatient nurses up to the wages of inpatient nurses so that it would happen in September of this year. For 22 bargaining sessions, we returned to the table in good faith, in the format requested by the union.
"In the end, the organization could not responsibly meet the union’s wage demands and also meet all of the other responsibilities we have to our patients and families, our employees, and the communities we serve.
"Now our entire focus is on implementing our comprehensive plan to care for our patientsThursdayandFridaywith as little disruption as possible.
"I’d like to close by saying we are welcoming any of our nurses who want to come to work during the strike, and we will welcome back all of our nurses at the conclusion of it. There are no replacements for our nurses. We value them as an important part of our organization and we look forward to healing and moving forward together to care for our patients."
Statement from the Vermont Federation of Nurses &Health Professionals:
"The 1800 union nurses at University of Vermont Medical Center - the largest private sector employer and only level 1 trauma center in Vermont - will strike beginningtomorrowat7amand running until7amon Saturday.
"The announcement came after UVMMC President Eileen Whalen and the company lawyer walked away from the bargaining table lateWednesdaynight.
"Wages remain the main obstacle to an agreement between the two sides. The union maintains that higher wages, including raising the floor to $15/hr for all UVMMC employees, are necessary to recruit and retain nurses and support staff and address a crisis of chronic understaffing at the hospital.
"In this evening's bargaining session, the company proposed a wage package of 4%, 2%, 2% over three years, and the union countered with 8%, 4%, 4%. *President Whalen returned and reiterated her former proposal, along with an appeal - both of which were rejected by the bargaining committee and 150 nurses in the room, prompting Whalen to walk away from the table.
"Beginningtomorrowmorning, nurses will maintain a 48-hr continual picket at the main hospital campus in Burlington, and limited pickets at outpatient and satellite clinics."
"*In addition to a 2% annual step increase each year for the 2/3rds of nurses who have not yet reached the top of the pay scale."
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