A union representing 160 nurses at Brattleboro Memorial Hospital said Monday that an “overwhelming supermajority” had voted to strike, but would delay setting a date until later this week in hopes of reviving contract talks.
“We don’t take this decision lightly,” said Tracy Ouellette, president of the Brattleboro Federation of Nurses. “But we are prepared to do what it takes to protect our community hospital.”
The union is objecting to proposed curbs on salaries and benefits amid a projected $14.5 million annual budget shortfall at southeastern Vermont’s main health care provider.
“Our community is at a tipping point,” Ouellette said. “If these cuts move forward, we’re going to lose more nurses, and patients will feel it.”
The union has told hospital officials it was open to receiving a new offer this week to replace a contract that expired Sept. 30.
“If it merits consideration, we’ll go back to the table,” Ouellette said.
If not, the union said it would issue a 10-day legal notice on its plans to strike at the 500-worker facility, which is one of Brattleboro’s three largest employers.
In response, hospital leaders said they wanted to continue negotiations rather than close everything except for yet-to-be-specified “essential services” during a strike.
“Our nurses are critical to the care we provide, and we value their dedication and expertise,” said Elizabeth McLarney, one of two acting co-CEOs. “At the same time, we must balance these needs with the responsibility to maintain a financially stable, high-functioning hospital. We urge the union to continue negotiating in good faith so we can avoid any disruption to patient care.”
The hospital said it would be ready to meet again on March 31.
“While we respect our employees’ right to organize, we remain firmly committed to delivering safe, high-quality care to our patients and protecting the long-term stability of the hospital,” leaders said in a statement. “BMH is taking all necessary precautions to maintain full operational readiness and protect patient safety during this time.”
Labor and management began contract talks last year, only to pause in the fall when state regulators questioned the accuracy of the hospital’s current $130 million operating budget — a move that led to the discovery of the $14.5 million deficit and the exits of the hospital’s chief executive and financial officers.
A second hospital union — Brattleboro Healthcare United, representing 280 support staffers — has expressed similar complaints amid its own active contract negotiations.
