Contract Talks Stall Over Workplace Safety, Per Diem Staffing, Health Insurance and Wages
Thursday, Jan. 11th from 2p.m. – 5 p.m.
Management’s proposed changes to the nurses’ health insurance benefit would increase the co pays for nurses and would require nurses to pay a financial penalty for seeking care at hospitals other then Brockton Hospital. While cutting health insurance benefits, the hospital is offering a wage proposal that would place Brockton nurses ‘ salary as much as 8 percent ($3 per hour) below nurses at surrounding hospitals, including cross-town rival Caritas Good Samaritan Hospital. Below market wages and dangerous working conditions are preventing the recruitment and retention of staff needed to provide safe patient care. Staffing problems are particularly acute on the off shifts, where, according to a recent survey of staffing in Massachusetts hospitals, Brockon Hospital ranks fourth from the bottom among hospitals in the state. .
In the last year, there have been more than 800 911 calls from the emeregency department at Brockton Hospital, with a number of serious assualts against nurses in the last six months. Industry wide, nurses are assaulted on the job more than police officers and prison guards. The Occupational Health and Safety Administration has identified workplace violence for health care workers as a major problem and has encouraged hospitals to take steps to prevent workplace violence, as well as to provide proper treatment to employees who are victims of violence. Brockton Hospital has done neither, creating an unsafe work environment where violence is a regular occurrence, and nurses who are victims of violence are not provided with appropriate support In response, the nurses have proposed union contract language that would obligate the hospital to institute a "zero tolerance" policy for violence against health care workers and to implement policies and procedures to prevent violence.
DIRECTIONS TO BROCKTON HOSPITAL:
From Points South:
From Route 24 North
Take exit 17A for Route 123 – Brockton (Cadillac Center will be on the right just off of the ramp).
Continue straight on Route 123 approximately 2 miles to Main Street. At the traffic light on Main Street, take a left (this is a one way street).
Proceed through 3 sets of traffic lights. At 4th traffic light, take a right onto Centre Street. Continue straight on Centre Street for about 1.5 miles (passing 3 sets of lights).
Brockton Hospital will be on your left at 680 Centre Street, just after Dunkin Donuts. First left to enter Emergency Department and Outpatient Entrance. Third left onto Libby Street for main entrance and visitor parking.
From Points North:
Route 93 or 128 South to Route 24 South towards Brockton.
Take exit 19A, Harrison Boulevard – Avon. Go to the end of Harrison Boulevard. Take a right onto Route 28 South. Follow to the intersection of Route 123 East and take a left onto 123. Follow for 1.5 miles.
Brockton Hospital will be on your left at 680 Centre Street, just after Dunkin Donuts. First left to enter Emergency Department and Outpatient Entrance. Third left onto Libby Street for main entrance and visitor parking.
From the Bridgewaters, Halifax and Middleboro:
From Route 18 to Route 14 towards Brockton (intersection at Saftler’s). Route 14 will intersect with Route 27 in Brockton.
Take a left onto Route 27. At I st set of traffic lights, take a right onto Quincy Street (across from Christo’s). At the next set of traffic lights, take a left onto Centre Street (Route 123 West).
Brockton Hospital will be on your right at 680 Centre Street. First right onto Libby Street for main entrance and visitor parking. Third right to enter Emergency Department and Outpatient Entrance.
From Stoughton, Easton and Mansfield:
From Route 138, Easton
Take Route 123 East towards Brockton. Straight through 2 sets of lights (will pass over Route 24, Cadillac Center will be on right).
Continue straight on Route 123 approximately 2 miles to Main Street. At the traffic light on Main Street, take a left (this is a one way street) –
Proceed through 3 sets of traffic lights. At 4th traffic light, take a right onto Centre Street. Continue straight on Centre Street for about 1.5 miles (passing 3 sets of lights).
Brockton Hospital will be on your left at 680 Centre Street, just after Dunkin Donuts. First left to enter Emergency Department and Outpatient Entrance. Third left onto Libby Street for main entrance and visitor parking.
