Hollister
– The nurses’ union says they are pleased with progress made at
the negotiations table after meeting with Hazel Hawkins Memorial
Hospital’s bargainers for the first time since voting to authorize
a strike three weeks ago.
Hollister – The nurses’ union says they are pleased with progress made at the negotiations table after meeting with Hazel Hawkins Memorial Hospital’s bargainers for the first time since voting to authorize a strike three weeks ago.
“Nobody’s made any decisions,” said Patty Lasky, a representative of the California Nurses’ Association. “But we’re glad that we’ve been able to make some progress.”
Three weeks ago nurses voted to allow a strike if contract negotiations don’t pick up some steam. But while the vote authorizes a strike, it was not a formal decision to do so. Typically, officials say a 10-day notice of intent to strike is given to the hospital, ostensibly to allow sufficient time for substitutes to be hired. Because no date has been set, there is no guarantee that the strike will even happen.
Lasky said the union would not rule out the possibility of a strike in the near future, but if things continue to move forward such a move will not be necessary.
“We’re hopeful we can come to a resolution on these issues,” she said.
The bulk of the conversation Wednesday and Thursday revolved around the economic end of the union’s contract – wages and benefits – as well as steps the hospital can take to improve recruitment and retention of RNs, Lasky said.
The union wants the hospital to increase wages and re-examine retirement benefits in order to be more competitive with other hospitals in the area. According to the nursing association’s figures, a nurse with five years of experience makes $40.45 an hour; a nurse with the same experience could make $45.40 at St. Louise Hospital in Gilroy or $50.43 at Salinas Valley Hospital. Nurses are hopeful a wage increase could help relieve the staffing shortage at Hazel Hawkins, enabling them to take their breaks on time and limit the amount of overtime they have to work.
Lasky said the union’s decision to authorize a strike may well have sped up the negotiations process a little.
“It’s difficult to try and guess what’s going on in somebody else’s head,” she said. “But I think the employer understands that the nurses take these issues very seriously.”
Negotiators return to the table later in the month – in the meantime Lasky says she will be talking to the nurses and seeing what direction they want negotiations to follow.
Even if the wages and benefits are completely wrapped up at the next meeting, Lasky says there is still a lot of negotiating that needs to take place in order to ensure that the staffing shortage is remedied.
“There’s still a lot of work to be done,” she said.
Hospital negotiators could not be reached for comment.
Danielle Smith covers education for the Free Lance. Reach her at 637-5566, ext. 336 or
ds****@fr***********.com
.
