Will third strike be charm for Sutter RNs?

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.novatoadvance.com/articles/2008/03/05/business/doc47cf0ed934af2269030545.txt

By Paul Jones
Staff Writer
Wednesday, March 5, 2008 2:01 PM PST

Nurses employed by Sutter-affiliated hospitals, such as the Novato Community Hospital, are being asked by the California Nurses Association to vote whether or not to authorize a possible strike, which could be as long as 10 days. The voting process will end March 7, the same day Novato Community Hospital nurses will make their decision whether or not to participate. The strike, if authorized, will be CNA’s third strike since October of 2007.

The lengthy and costly negotiating process was initiated by the expiration of certain Sutter Hospitals’ contracts with the union. Both sides have accused each other of bad faith, with representatives for the Sutter Health Network stating that the CNA is seeking to impose a master contract on independently negotiating hospitals, and trying to expand its membership by demanding the network hospitals accept undemocratic organizing rules. The union accuses the hospital of violating staffing standards and offering poor benefits to nurses.


SHEILA MASSON/ADVANCE Novato Community Hospital, at 180 Rowland Blvd., could face its third strike since October after a March 7 vote.


“The hospitals have taken a much more aggressive stand at the bargaining table during our last series of negotiations,” said Jan Rodolfo of the CNA. “They haven’t made any moves on our issues, which are patient safety, meal and break relief, and (benefits), nurses not being able to take advantage of quality healthcare and insurance.”

Mary Strebig, communications and marketing director for the Novato Community Hospital, said the hospital was trying to reach a mutually acceptable settlement, but that the CNA had ulterior motives. She said the hospital was offering nurses a 14.5 percent wage increase over three years, free health coverage for nurses who worked 20-plus hours a week and their families, and portable health benefits with retirement.

“During past contract negotiations, we were able to settle with CNA quickly and without strikes,” she said. “This time, negotiations have been very different … (CNA) seems to be holding out for a deal with all of Sutter Health that includes easier organizing rights.”

Both sides have made similar claims throughout the negotiating process. Rodolfo said the union has dropped its demand for a master contract, but this was neither confirmed nor denied by Sutter representatives. Rodolfo also said Sutter had a history of opposing organizing rights by CNA nurses at its hospitals.


FULL story at link.

[Warpy]

1. I hope so. They've had a long, hard battle

but if they keep the strikes short and management off balance, they have a much better chance of success.

Strike breakers are generally contracted through traveling nurse agencies for three months at a time. If a strike is over in three weeks, the hospital is stuck with a lot of very expensive strike breakers for the next two months.

Nurses have been an abused profession for too long. We need some successes.