With a September 3 strike deadline looming, the Registered Nurses of North Adams Regional Hospital (NARH) go back to the table for a final round of negotiations. The nurses are hopeful that management will come to their senses and withdraw the disastrous concessions they have kept on the table. The hospital still has proposals on the table that will be harmful to the patients and the nurses of NARH. The hospital wants to:
- Implement a series of proposals that will eliminate the right of nurses to a set schedule with guaranteed hours and a stable income.
- Remove the nurses’ current right to refuse mandatory overtime when they are too ill or tired to provide safe care.
- Remove a provision ensuring that nurses have safe patient assignments.
If there is a settlement, the Thursday rally will be a celebration. If not, it will be a support rally for the nurses who will be on strike.
Schedule for Week
Tuesday, August 31
Negotiations resume in North Adams (the nurses are committed to staying late and meeting again on Wednesday if there is progress toward a just solution).
Thursday, September 2, 5 p.m.
Support Rally (or victory celebration) at St. Elizabeth’s of Hungary Parish Hall corner of Holden Street and St. Anthony’s Drive, North Adams.
Friday, September 3, 6 a.m.
Picketing begins as nurses leave hospital to join the line at 71 Hospital Ave., North Adams.
Directions: http://www.nbhealth.org/NARH/30/Directions.html
For any of these events you can contact Charlie Rasmussen at 781.363.0728. He will be available at the church on Thursday after 3 p.m. and at the entrance to North Adams Regional Hospital at 5 a.m. on Friday. For the latest information check the MNA website at http://www.massnurses.org/news-and-events/archive/2010/narh-strike.
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