Updated 4:04 p.m.
With a week left until a nursing strike, the University of Vermont Medical Center has scheduled a bargaining session on Friday with its nurses’ union. The time, 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., was chosen after discussions involving both sides, according to Hospital spokesman Michael Carrese.
He sent out a press release Thursday announcing the session and stating the hospital administration’s hope that a strike might still be averted. The hospital has maintained that it will be prepared to provide quality care to patients in the event of a strike.
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) waded into the fray Thursday, releasing a statement in support of nurses and announcing a joint press conference with the nurses’ union on Friday afternoon.
“Nurses are the backbone of the UVM Medical Center,” Sanders’ written statement said. “They work day and night to treat our family members and to keep our community healthy. Patient care suffers when these dedicated professionals are not treated with respect and do not receive adequate compensation.”
The nurse’s bargaining team voted on Saturday to serve a strike notice Monday. Nurses are required by law to give hospitals 10 days advance notice of their intent to strike. If no agreement is reached, the nurses will strike on July 12 and 13.
Jason Serota-Winston, the union’s vice president of organizing, said the nurses asked for another bargaining session after serving the strike notice. He said the union remains committed to getting a contract with fair pay that would create safe staffing at the hospital. Nurses claim low pay has prevented UVM Medical Center from keeping nursing positions filled, leading to unsafe conditions for patients. The union has asked for parity in salaries with nurses at Champlain Valley Physicians Hospital in Plattsburgh, N.Y.
Correction, July 5, 2018: Due to a mistake in a news release from the hospital, an earlier version of this story misstated the reason that the negotiations were scheduled for Friday evening.
Related Stories
Got something to say?
Send a letter to the editor and we'll publish your feedback in print!
Nurses peaked at Level compensation for 5+ years, not even a COLA, while Brumstead received a 32% bump in 2016 to $2.2m. The “Network” CFO received a 271% bump in 2016 to $860k. Ms. Whallen, at $865+ seems to have forgotten what it’s like to be a real nurse. I only hope that Physicians choose to stop surgeries during this strike…. I sure as hell wouldn’t want to have surgery next Thursday or Friday. If I have an emergency, I’ll request the Rescue folks to take me to Copley. When will these people at the top start thinking about what they’re doing, other than fattening their bank accounts. This is absolutely incredible, . just goes to show what money means versus patient care in an appropriate setting with adequate staffing. UNBELIEVABLE !!
It is not clear that CVPH is the proper comparison. Physicians at University medical centers make less than those elsewhere, so I am not surprised the same might be true of nurses. Perhaps all the employees should be paid at the same percentile for their position based on comparable institutionsfrom CEO on down to housekeeping.
I am not sure that CVPH is the proper comparison. Physicians working at UVM Med Center (and other university medical centers across the country) are paid less than physicians at other hospitals (including CVPH), so I am not surprised that nurses might make less at UVM then CVPH. There has always been a sort of academic tax to work at these sorts of places. Perhaps a better idea is to pay all employees (from CEO on down to housekeeping) at the same percentile for similar positions at comparable medical centers (eg, academic, Northeast US, etc).
A relative of mine is going through chemo. During her “treatment” which has always been a scheduled procedure, she has had to wait hours for the doctor to finally approve, which was suppose to have already been done. This has happened to her several times and causes unnecessary stress to an already weak and sick patient. The only ones that came in to check on her or even give her information, were the nurses, who tried to push things along and have always been friendly, kind, caring and UNDER STAFFED. It is a travesty what the CEO’s of UVM Center make and the expensive charges that a patient has to pay. Is that money only lining the pockets of some? Why not take some of that $$$ and outrageous pay hikes, give to the nurses and staff and try to improve the hospital and its surroundings for patients. Here’s a suggestion: Install an automatic walkway, like the airports have, to get to the old hospital rooms which are far away from the renovated part of the hospital. That long, confusing walk is ridiculous and many people cannot do it, and have to wait a LONG time for “unfriendly” wheelchair service! P.S. The last few times I was there, the rooms were dirty, cramped and smelly and patients were waiting for blood work (the bloody gauze never hits the trash and remains on the floor) sheets needed to be changed and body fluid bags to be emptied. Horrible! No wonder my relative is switching to another hospital and doctors for her care….
I have to grimace every time I see a yard sign “Patients Before Profits!” Aren’t these nurses after More Money? Seems lame argument to claim the hospital is after money when the nurses want more too.
Come on now – you know its true 🙂