Editor’s note: This commentary is by Allie Stickney, who is the chair of the board for the UVM Medical Center.
[T]he UVM Medical Center has been negotiating with the union that represents our nurses to come to an agreement on a fair contract. The nurses union let us know they intend to begin a 48-hour strike on the morning of July 12. While that does not necessarily mean there will be a strike and there is still enough time to reach resolution, UVM Medical Center leaders are hard at work developing a contingency plan to ensure patients get the care they need should there be a work stoppage.
As chair of the board at UVM Medical Center, I have seen up close how people prevail through some of life’s most difficult moments with the help of a skilled, caring health care professional. I have personally been at the bedside of my seriously ill children and terminally ill husband at UVM Medical Center, surrounded by caregivers who did whatever they could to heal and ease the pain.
This was very much on my mind during our most recent board meeting, when we had nurses and union leadership come to express their views and share their priorities. We listened carefully to their message, and know there is more work to be done to empower nurses with a voice in decisions about staffing and patient care. I am encouraged that through the leadership of Eileen Whalen, president, and Kate FitzPatrick, chief nursing officer, both nurses themselves, we have made meaningful progress toward this goal. I was pleased to learn about the shared decision-making approach that has 114 nurses in leadership positions engaged. It was important to be reminded that since 2016, more than 300 RNs and 400 support staff have been hired, a total of 754 full-time employees. More than 120 of these positions are new. These efforts will surely improve the experience of our patients. The board is keenly interested in this work and looks forward to continued development in this area.
I think of all of this as I observe the nurse contract negotiations, and I am disheartened by the possibility that UVM Medical Center nurses may strike. There can be no question our nurses are a bedrock of this organization and must be valued for their dedicated, skilled work. I have followed these negotiations carefully and believe the hospital has put forth a fair proposal to address wage and staffing concerns. I’ve been impressed with the focus and energy the team has brought to these negotiations. A 13 percent raise over three years – with more for some categories of nurses, such as outpatient nurses who could get an average of 25 percent – demonstrates how much this organization values our nurses. This proposal is double the hospital’s initial offer and represents significant movement on the part of UVM Medical Center in an effort to reach agreement and avoid a strike.
All negotiations require understanding and compromise. Nobody wants a strike. I urge both sides to continue listening to one another and seeking out common ground. The community is counting on it.
I know when we get through this we will reconnect and heal, through the large caring community we are all fortunate to call home.
