BANGOR, Maine — Union nurses and their supporters will conduct an informational picket Tuesday at Eastern Maine Medical Center.
The event is set for 4-8 p.m. and will include a news conference, the nurses said in an announcement issued on Friday.
EMMC administrators and members of the Maine State Nurses Association/National Nurses United, which represents roughly 850 nurses who work for the hospital, have been unable to reach agreement on a contract after more than two months of negotiating.
Although participants hold signs and banners and the like, an informational picket is not a strike. Rather, it is meant to allow unions in negotiation to provide information to the public.
Members of the two bargaining teams are scheduled to meet with a federal mediator again on Wednesday.
The one-year contract that expired earlier this month was ratified last May after eight months of often contentious negotiations. In addition to marathon contract talks, there was picketing, a strike, a lockout and threats of a second strike and lockout.
Among the issues resolved in that agreement were the transfers of nurses among departments, the workload for charge nurses and health benefits. Not addressed were staffing levels, which nurses said at the time was a major sticking point.
Contract provisions remain in place, however.
Sticking points in this round of talks include staffing levels, security in the emergency department and pay.
The nurses, who did not receive a cost of living increase in the contract that expired at midnight last Thursday, are seeking 3 percent increases for each of the three years of their next contract — or a 5 percent increase if only a one-year agreement is reached.
The union also is seeking benefit improvements, including an additional pay step and more pay for nurses who are called in to work outside of their regular hours.
EMMC said its “last, best, final offer” called for 3 percent the first year and 2 percent for each of the subsequent two years and a 3 percent increase in the event that only a one-year pact is achieved.
More intimidation of people going to the hospital merely to get care.
BS!
NO ONE is getting raises in this economy.
This makes the nurses look so bad to the rest of us working 60 hour weeks without a raise for the last 3 years…
Have to agree, the economy is still in the crapper. People have lost jobs, homes, insurance, if you have a job and bennies you should be happy. This is not the time to try and get people to feel sorry for you when you are more than likely making more and have better bennies. Good luck, don;t blow it.
What the heck is an “informational picket” and who are they trying to give the information to? Are they under the impression that the public is going to force EMMC to give them what they want, or that we even care?
What about when unions have a “real picket”. Do they think that anyone, other than another union member, is going to turn around and not use a facility so that we don’t cross a picket line?
Also, did they just flip over their OWS picket signs and write a new message on them?
Have you asked for a raise? Why would you deny them what they make because they make more than you?
I totally agree I got a .34 cent raise. woo hoo.
its a raise isn’t it? you tell them not to complain and it sounds like that is what you’re doing!
This is an informational picket, not a strike. This is a chance for you, the general public, to go and talk to the nurses face-to-face, to hear for yourselves what the truth is, not what the media reports it is. Get off your computer and make a decision based on what you think, not what legions of others tell you to think. I stand with you my sisters, and brothers too!
Why not rent an auditorium, and invite the rest of us to your “informational” meeting?
Naw, that wouldn’t be confrotentional enough nor generate enough media attention.
I respect that you are working 60 hours/week. However, I know nurses who work that and more to cover staffing shortages, level of care issues, etc. I hope things work out better for you and yours…
I’m sorry but if you are more worried about money than taking care of a fellow human being then you’re nuts! Whatever happened to “First Do No Harm?” If there were to be a lockout then who will take care of the patients? That is causing harm to their health and needs. These people are pathetic and greedy. Some of us are just barely getting by living paycheck to paycheck and they are asking for a COST OF LIVING INCREASE? MORE PAY? This is sickening. If you don’t like working there then go somewhere else!
First of all do you have any idea what they make? 2nd, they get there butts kicked every night in the ER. I would love to see you work 12-15 hours on your feet and not getting a break.
first so sorry they “get their butt” kicked but they chose to do this job, and if they are doing for the money than well find a different career. Second it isnt just for the money, they want to have one nurse per one patient, great on paper, sucky in reality. You would have to have a million mile long hospital to fit all the staff. I barely afford taxes now with out paying unecessary ones on more than needed staff. Third they are not the only ones who work 12 hour days without a break. Alot more people do it than anyone realizes.
They don’t wnat one pt per nurse in the ER. Get your facts straight before spouting off. And your taxes have nothing to do with that hospital or any other for that matter. Nice try on that spin though.
Wasn’t it the nurses who desired working three 12’s rather than five 8’s as my wife did when she worked at EMMA back in the day?
She also rotated through nights and weekends.
Today, nurses enjoy far more predictable and stable work hours.
If you don’t like living paycheck to paycheck why don’t YOU get a different job.Have you bothered to look into the pay and benefit packages of non-union management people? I doubt very seriously that these nurses are more worried about money than they are their patients and they shouldn’t be expected to give up pay raises just to keep you union bashers happy. People like you who constantly carp about how unfair it is that your struggling and and you don’t like it because unionized workers seem to do better, sound like someone who has been diagnosed with cancer and your mad because everyone else doesn’t have it to.
They arn’t on strike. Last I neard, a Lockout is when the management doesn’t let them in to work, in which case, who is harming patients?
Hmmmm, the nurses want to get paid for 4 hours of recovery time after the have been on call. The majority of them have the day off after as it is. And now the greedy self centered nurses want to get paid for four additional hours to “recover”. The article did not mention how they want to be paid $7 an hour just to be on call. They want almost minimum wage to sit around and do nothing.
Really, so they all have every other day off? Do you know there schedules? If you do then you’re better than the RN’s that work there because all of the schedules are screwed up! I’m glad you think you know everything about EMMC!
I obviously know alot more about EMMC than yourself. The RN’s are not required to work 12’s and be on call and then work another 12. If they do so, it is by their chosing. So why the heck do they deserve to get paid an additional 4 hours after they are done working?
Nobody is getting a raise in this economy? Have you checked the top honchos at Eastern Maine HealthCare? Or don’t they count? Those who naively believe that top honcho Michelle Hood’s reported $650,000 as of two years ago didn’t go up last year no doubt believe in Santa Claus.
New ALEC bill is coming LD ??screweveryone Cuts the ratio or nurses to patients in half as long as CNAs can be on staff .
Of course it is Bob…you know so much about it that you don’t even know the LD# or the actual ratios (if they even exist).
Look they did it with Electricians already LD1833. I believe the patient to RN Ratio is something like 5 to 1 now well toss in some CNAs and they could make it 10 to 1 . I have not seen an LD law yet it dose not mean it is not coming soon. I would fight hard against it. To bad the nurses union did not stand up for other unions . I am not a union electrician . I am a small contractor. How about a new law for police no schooling and they can carry a gun to as long as thier is another officer around. Nurses should not be crying about wages when others at EMMC are not getting raises .
Bob how was increasing from one to two apprentice electricians a bad thing?
And while it was a bit off topic in Maine any sworn (commissioned) law enforcement officer that has competed what was once call the 100-hour course may carry a fire arm and make arrests. I would rather have a 100-hour course graduate then someone carrying a firearm with no training with or without another officer present.
But I do find myself in agreement with your last sentence. I know to many people at EMMC that have gone without raises (and these are front line patient care workers not management) that have gone without raises for several years.
Jd Apparently you have not worked in the electrical field. No problem , Let me explain if someone finished school all they would have to do is pass a Maine journeyman In train license JTI to be able to work with no supervision. By raising the ration anyone could do electrical work 2 helpers to 1 license . I got many Licensed Electricians call and send me resumes who are more qualified than I am who wanted to come to work for me. That being said some employers will go for the cheap labor . I was for letting people while in school not pay for a helpers lic. The point is it is a safety issue . In the real world helpers do everything Licensed men do . Not a problem if they can be watched or have experience . The law is not going to get more licensed electricians just dumb down the work pool. As you can probably tell from my righting skills I am not educated . Now the real problem is thses kids today do not want to learn . 70% fail who complete tech college Fail the Maine lic exam on the first try. I did not go to college but passed mine first try. Not a hard test just have to want to pass and work hard. It will put more licensed men out of work . Employers will pay less for licensed men because the could find a helper cheaper. Thier is only so much work putting more kids to work will cost others a job. Anyone who says they cannot find an electrician dose not want to pay or has not opened the yellow pages.
Given the failing OBAMA economy the final offer by EMMC seems pretty darn good. 3% 2% and 2% is amazing , and remember its not 3% of minimum wage. March on ye overworked and underpaid icons of the health industry, march on I say. I when I get invoice from the hospital I am truly amazed at how they can do it so good and still do it that cheap. WOW.
I’m so glad that all of you posting on here know so much about EMMC. Why don’t you complain about all of the CEO’s of the hospital that make well more than a million. Boy we can see what all of your priorities are!
I agree humungus corporate salaries and bonuses seem to put them out of touch with the rest of the world, but the timing for nurses standing on a street corner with a solidarity sign is a little troublesome in todays economy. Especialy with so many people out of work and struggling financially. The EMMC final offer looks pretty good.
And how many of those people who don’t have work could truly find a job if they would get off the butts and go look. There were over 9000 jobs on a local website for jobs in the Bangor area. Flipping burgers may not be a great job but at least its a job!
Amen to that
If the matador is trying to get the bull to be reasonable-he does not wave a red flag in front of him.