Baker pleads with St. Vincent nurses, hospital to end strike
‘Get back to the table’
Gov. Charlie Baker and had some terse words for those on both sides of the strike at Saint Vincent Hospital as the standoff recently tipped over the 200-day mark — drawing a shot back from the nurses union.
“The Commonwealth needs every available healthcare resource fully operational while we are responding to this pandemic. It’s time for both parties to get back to the table and reach consensus at St. Vincent’s Hospital,” Baker tweeted Friday afternoon.
The hospital used that opportunity to implore the nurses to come back to work, arguing that “the nurses strike has gone on far too long, and it’s no surprise that the (Massachusetts Nurses Association) refuses to take responsibility for their role in prolonging this strike,” a spokesperson said in a statement.
Over 700 nurses began striking on March 8 over working conditions, arguing the hospital was shortstaffed, and many of them are still on strike today.
The statement said the Worcester hospital’s attorney spoke with the MNA attorney in late August and early September, and also sent a letter “detailing several creative solutions we have offered to resolve the return-to-work concerns,” which included enhanced severance pay for those who didn’t want to return, and alternative roles and “super seniority rights” for those who have been permanently replaced.
That attorney offered to entertain any “creative solutions” from MNA as long as they didn’t involve displacing the permanent replacement nurses. The statement alleges that the MNA’s attorney hasn’t communicated with them since the last meeting.
Striking nurse and vice president of MNA Marie Ritacco shot back in a statement: “The only obstacle to the St. Vincent Nurses being back in the hospital, and the person responsible for this crisis is Tenet Healthcare’s CEO Carolyn Jackson,” she said, referring to the owner of the hospital.
The statement added that the nurses share Baker’s concern for patients “and we urge him to do whatever he can to convince the source of this stalemate, Ms. Jackson, to finally negotiate an equitable end to the dispute that respects the nurses and ensures the safety of our patients.”