Backus Hospital nurses planning strike
Nurses at Backus Hospital in Norwich are set to strike Tuesday and Wednesday to protest what they say is the company’s refusal to negotiate a contract.
The hospital and Backus Federation of Nurses, part of AFT Connecticut that represents more than 400 nurses, have been in contract talks since June. The two sides differ on compensation, improved distribution of personal protective equipment and recruiting and keeping new nurses, according to the union.
Backus Hospital, part of Hartford HealthCare, said it “made every effort to avoid a strike” and addressed issues important to both parties during 23 bargaining sessions. Issues it cited are personal protective equipment, staffing and additional accommodations for breastfeeding.
The hospital said it also offered “significant wage increases” of 12.5% for all registered nurses over the three-year contract, additional paid time off for 82% of nurses and is reducing the cost of health care premiums by 2%.
The hospital also said it retained jobs “at a time when other healthcare employers have laid off or furloughed nurses and other staff.”
“The union, unfortunately, is prepared to strike, causing an unprecedented degree of disruption during an unprecedented health crisis,” the hospital said.
Union President Sherri Dayton said recent negotiations led to progress on improved protective gear policies, expanded access for breastfeeding by new mothers and accountability for safe patient limits.
But the company has not yielded on calls by the union to improve recruitment and retention of nurses, the union said.
The union has organized a rally Tuesday at the hospital and will be joined by U.S. Rep. Joe Courtney, D-2nd, Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers, and other labor leaders and elected officials.
Nurses at the not-forprofit hospital are seeking higher pay and more staff to relieve nurses who often work hours after the end of their shifts, the union said. They also say they are forced to reuse personal protective equipment kept in paper bags until it’s compromised or soiled and are demanding Hartford Healthcare keep a three-month supply of N95 masks.
Hartford HealthCare insists personal protective equipment is always available to patients and staff.