PRN and ECH have mutually declared an impasse on compensation and benefits. Following the September 30, 2010 vote by the PRN memebership to reject the hospital's Last, Best and Final (LBF) Offer on Compensation and Benefits, an impasse was declared by both parties on October 15, 2010. Since that time, PRN has been working to get information regarding the procedure for taking the impasse to the ECH Board of Directors for resolution.
The impasse issue will be taken to the ECH Board of Directors on November 10, 2010. PRN and ECH will present their individual arguments asking the Board to reject the imposition of the LBF (PRN) or to approve the imposition of the offer (ECH). The presentations will be made during the open session of the BOD meeting on Wednesday, November 10th. The agenda (with approximate times for the impasse presentations) can be found on the ECH website under Board of Directors. RNs are encouraged to attend the meeting.
PRN will present our argument asking the ECH Board of Directors to reject imposing the LBF. Our argument focuses on several items, specifically PTO, retirement, health care and wages. We believe the LBF will leave ECH as non-competitive with other hospitals in our area. Despite the recent RIF, ECH has and will continue to have RN vacancies that must be filled.
In addition, the LBF is particularly onerous to the evening and night shift RNs. We are concerned with the morale of the RNs at ECH. Since November, 2009, the RNs have been asked to work under extremely difficult conditions. The new hospital has not made providing care easier. It has made it harder. Other decisions by management have made working conditions very stressful and time consuming. Add to this the imposition of unfair compensation and benefits and the atmosphere will turn unhealthy and possibly toxic.
It has taken a lot of time to get to this stage in our negotiations. We need the support of the RNs more than ever. Please e-mail Pat Briggs with information regarding other hospital's wages, benefits and working conditions that make it more attractive to work there rather than at ECH.
Please show your support by attending the Board of Directors meeting on November 10th. Let us stand together.