100-plus nurses cross picket line
Officials report ‘no disruption’
More than 100 Saint Vincent Hospital nurses crossed the picket line to go to work on Monday as the remainder of nurses continued to strike for better staffing measures in contract negotiations with Dallasbased Tenet Healthcare.
A total of 115 nurses, about 15% of the hospital’s total nurs
ing staff, chose to work instead of striking, according to a Saint Vincent Hospital spokeswoman. The strike, organized by the Massachusetts Nurses Association, began on Monday.
“We want to thank all our caregivers, including the nurses who made the decision to put patients first by crossing the MNA picket line to take care of our community,” said Saint Vincent CEO Carolyn Jackson.
“We especially recognize the bravery of the nurses who crossed the picket line for taking this important stand,” she said. “It sends a strong message to the MNA that not all nurses are in support of this strike.”
MNA nurses are locked in heated contract negotiations with Tenet Healthcare for better staffing measures.
During the first day of the strike, the hospital reported that care had been administered to more than 200 inpatients and hundreds of outpatients without any safety events, and other procedures and appointments carried on as usual with the help of replacement nurses.
“Despite the absence of our regular nursing staff, we continued the quality care for which we are known with no disruption,” said Lisa Beaudry, chief nursing officer at Saint Vincent.
Observers from the state
Department of Public Health and Department of Mental Health were on site Monday to make sure Saint Vincent continues to maintain appropriate quality and staffing, according to a hospital spokeswoman.
Jackson said, “This is an outstanding hospital, with an outstanding safety record. It is now and has always been appropriately staffed. Our operations remain stable.”
David Schildmeier, MNA spokesman, said they expected some nurses to cross the picket line as about 89% of the staff voted in favor of the strike.
“It’s hard for the nurses, when they are out on the street trying to improve conditions for all staff in the hospital, to have some of their own undermine their efforts, but everyone has their reasons to do it,” Schildmeier said.
He said a relief fund for the nurses is currently in the process of being set up. Nurses in dire situations who need help paying bills while on strike can apply for the relief funds, according to Schildmeier.
“We are getting donations from all over,” Schildmeier said, adding that the same percentage of nurses had crossed the picket during a strike in 2000, which was successful.