First, administration refused to release two of our democratically-chosen bargaining team members from work to attend negotiations - as required by our contract.  We had no sooner resolved that issue, than administration rejected our proposal for more Union bulletin boards. Union literacy is vital for patient advocacy, and better communication means stronger patient advocates.

We’re noticing a pattern: administration is trying to silence Nurses' voices. But we will not allow ourselves to be silenced. What we win is dependent upon what we’re willing to do to win, and only through everyone being involved and staying united will we win a great contract.

Our latest proposals and administration’s (lack of) responses show what is at stake in negotiations.

We proposed

• Wage increases to recruit and retain nurses - patients deserve safe staffing levels and a stable workforce

• Certification pay - we deserve recognition for additional qualifications

• Public health emergency preparedness - Nurses and patients will benefit from PPE, testing, lodging, support for emotional trauma, and more

• ADD insurance for NICU & LDRP external transport teams - RNs who fly to keep mothers & babies alive deserve peace of mind
• A Roth 403(b) retirement option - nurses deserve access to tax advantages

What will it take to achieve a safe hospital for patients and nurses? We are still waiting for a response to our proposal for more metal detectors, locked safety doors in LDRP, and additional parking lot security during shift change. We are still waiting for a response to our safe floating proposal. Management doesn’t seem to share our sense of priorities.