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Letter from Carney Hospital Nurses to SS Hospital
Nurses:
Vote "YES" - it's well worth winning!!!
January 2, 2001
Chairperson
Organizing Committee
So. Shore Hospital Nurses
Dear Colleagues,
I am sending you the best wishes and support of
the nurses at Carney Hospital. We have been carefully watching
your efforts and following your struggles through our colleagues
at MNA and in the news. The battles have been many, some of
which you have won, but be assured; the war is well worth winning.
The nurses at Carney Hospital have been organized
and under contract since the 70's. With each contract negotiation,
great improvements have been made both in general welfare and salaries
for the nurses but also huge strides in patient care issues such
as mandatory overtime, floating, orientation, continuing education,
staffing, etc. We continue to work on these issues even today
as we prepare for negotiation of our next contract in February.
In this time of healthcare crisis, when hospitals
are making decisions regarding nurses and patients with the bottom
line as their guiding principle, it is essential that nurses speak
with one, strong, clear voice. One or two nurses decrying
the staffing reductions and other cutbacks that affect our everyday
practice cannot easily do this. Individual nurses put their
professions and their livelihoods at risk when they attempt to speak
out against management practices that severely affect patient care.
It is only as a group, with one collective voice, that we can address
these issues and other issues that affect our lives as nurses in
today's healthcare environment.
We are fortunate at Carney. We have a strong
bargaining unit of 350 nurses. Together we have made great
strides. We treasure our contract and the protection that
it provides. We sit at meetings with management on even par,
and discuss on-going issues that arise in our practice. Through
these meetings, we have improved life for both patients and nurses
here at Carney. These meetings were negotiated in one of our
previous contracts. They are mandatory meetings. Issues
are addressed, and solutions discussed with mutual respect across
the table. This may be something that you will consider in
your first contract with South Shore Hospital! First,
you must win your election on Friday, Jan. 5, 2001. We wish
you all the luck you need and keep you in our prayers that every
nurse will vote her mind and heart and vote IN the MNA. Do
not let FEAR stop you from reaching your goal! Once you are
a Unit, you will see that NURSE POWER is an AWESOME force.
We offer any assistance over the next couple of
days that you need. If there is anything that we can do to
help, please contact us. I have enclosed the name of the Tri-Chairs
of our Bargaining Unit with their email addresses, etc. If
we can help, we want to. Let us know. You can
also contact us through Eileen Norton at MNA. GOOD LUCK!
In Unity,
Tri-Chairs Carney Hospital Bargaining Unit
Marie A. Murray R.N.
No1aunt@mediaone.net
Peggie Donovan R.N.
timandpeggie@mediaone.net
Nancy Hood R.N.
nacyfly@mediaone.net
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