KDMC layoffs

I also have heard they r getting rid of cmts and hiring orderlies back, hate to say it but it would save them money.

I'm a union rep for an industrial union for a local company. I'm in my early 40's and union money fed me all my life. And to this day I believe in them with all my heart. They can be a really good thing. Or a really bad thing. One thing I've never understood about KDMC, and this is somewhat off topic, is why it isn't a total union shop? Why aren't all hourly employees union? This gives the company SO much leverage to drive a wedge between different departments and job descriptions. We've all seen the bickering on here between nurses and union members. I've seen the nurses on here make fun of the raises the union members got. But, think of the raises and benefits that EVERYONE could have had if you all pulled together if for nothing else but that one common goal which is your labor agreement. Please dont misunderstand I don't think someone in housekeeping should make the same money as an RN. but once payscales are negotiated for all positions, then you can move forward with across the board figures to present to the company for raises. As well as define other language such as PTO time and how and when it's used. That time is time that YOU earned. YOU should decide when and if you want to take it. I don't know if this is hospital wide policy or not, but someone told me they were made to use their PTO time on a federal holiday!

It's that kind of company behavior that the unions were designed for. I've been told by nurses that they wanted to join the union but were afraid they would lose their jobs if the company found out that the nurses were joining before it became official. THAT IS ILLEGAL. Even with an at will employer. Research it ! Even the threat of ANY type of retaliation is illegal.
And to my union brothers and sisters that work there. Remember the union is only as strong as it's members. It's take A LOT more than just the elected officials. BUT, you have to take pride in your job as well. Someone mentioned that $10 hr was the rate for housekeeping and that it wasn't bad. I agree,$10 isn't bad. Could it be better, yes. It could be worse too. But regardless of the pay, when negotiations come, the company needs to know that how well you do your job is worth what you're asking them to pay. Just because you're union doesn't mean you don't have to work hard. It means you get better pay and benefits and job security to do the hard work. It's not a free pass by any means. And when it gets looked at that way, the union loses credibility. And you lose the respect of your employer( if there was any ) but most importantly your co-workers.

As a health care provider, I would want for someone to provide care for my family members if they were sick. And with that thought, I could not go on strike if I were a member of a union. And it's hard for me to believe how a union can penalize or fine a union member for crossing the pocket line to provide care for those who are ill. that where I have an issue with unions in health care facilities.

To Unionrep: most of us non union workers have no desire to join SEIU. Those who do want to join are the lazy ones who want union protection. I have nothing against most unions, and I think they do great things. However, SEIU has a rather bad reputation, and from what I've seen, it's well deserved. KDMC might not be the most reputable place around, but I'd rather take my chances with them than I would give a dime to SEIU. My first job at the hospital was union, when I left for a non union job, I got $1.50/hr raise, plus I don't have to pay dues.

I totally agree with your point of view when looking at it from a patients stand point. And that is the double edged sword. I'm not going to pretend to have the solution to that. Although I think if both parties ( the company and the providers ) felt that way it should be a non issue. But the providers have to take up for themselves and their families best interest as well. If both sides ( company and union ) were acting in good faith then there should never be a strike. But with that said, if ALL hourly employees were union the company will negotiate with more vigor and an urgency to reach an agreement. They know that housekeeping and other union protected departments can be staffed fairly quickly in the event of a strike. But when it ALL hourly employees, esspecially nurses ( who I consider the life's blood of any hospital ), that is a situation that KDMC can't overcome. And KDMC knows this. Why else would they try to intimidate nurses to prevent them from becoming union members. Also, from the health care providers that I personally know a strike would be a very last resort move. With most nurses passion for their job and the company being put in an impossible position of staffing an entire hospital with hourly employees in the event of a strike the company WILL be willing to reach a suitable labor agreement. There IS strength in numbers. The best way to prevent a strike is to show the company that ALL HOURLY EMPLOYESS ARE WILLING TO STRIKE.

not a fan if the SEIU wrote:

As a health care provider, I would want for someone to provide care for my family members if they were sick. And with that thought, I could not go on strike if I were a member of a union. And it's hard for me to believe how a union can penalize or fine a union member for crossing the pocket line to provide care for those who are ill. that where I have an issue with unions in health care facilities.

Unionrep wrote:

<quoted text>I totally agree with your point of view when looking at it from a patients stand point. And that is the double edged sword. I'm not going to pretend to have the solution to that. Although I think if both parties ( the company and the providers ) felt that way it should be a non issue. But the providers have to take up for themselves and their families best interest as well. If both sides ( company and union ) were acting in good faith then there should never be a strike. But with that said, if ALL hourly employees were union the company will negotiate with more vigor and an urgency to reach an agreement. They know that housekeeping and other union protected departments can be staffed fairly quickly in the event of a strike. But when it ALL hourly employees, esspecially nurses ( who I consider the life's blood of any hospital ), that is a situation that KDMC can't overcome. And KDMC knows this. Why else would they try to intimidate nurses to prevent them from becoming union members. Also, from the health care providers that I personally know a strike would be a very last resort move. With most nurses passion for their job and the company being put in an impossible position of staffing an entire hospital with hourly employees in the event of a strike the company WILL be willing to reach a suitable labor agreement. There IS strength in numbers. The best way to prevent a strike is to show the company that ALL HOURLY EMPLOYESS ARE WILLING TO STRIKE.

Intimidating nurses? I've been at KDMC for several years and three contract negations, and not once did I witness or hear of the medical center intimidating any of the non-union employees. IMO, this is just another false statement from the SEIU. That seems to be all the SEIU leadership is good at, making false statements!

That was told to me by personal friends of mine that works there. Obviously it's not something prove or disprove. Is it the international SEIU that's so bad or the local elected representatives? I will always believe in the union and strength in numbers. But to be fair, for as many bad things I have heard about KDMC I've probably heard just as many about the union there.

worried wrote:

<quoted text>
Intimidating nurses? I've been at KDMC for several years and three contract negations, and not once did I witness or hear of the medical center intimidating any of the non-union employees. IMO, this is just another false statement from the SEIU. That seems to be all the SEIU leadership is good at, making false statements!

Unionrep wrote:

<quoted text>That was told to me by personal friends of mine that works there. Obviously it's not something prove or disprove. Is it the international SEIU that's so bad or the local elected representatives? I will always believe in the union and strength in numbers. But to be fair, for as many bad things I have heard about KDMC I've probably heard just as many about the union there.

I can only speak about SEIU 1199, because that is the only chapter that I have witnessed any actions from. And during this last negotiation process, the elected leaders proved their irrelevance as a result of their inability to gain any ground with the medical center.

Also, why are the vote totals not released? If this is a true reflection if the union members, then why not release the total?

Unionrep wrote:

That was told to me by personal friends of mine that works there. Obviously it's not something prove or disprove. Is it the international SEIU that's so bad or the local elected representatives? I will always believe in the union and strength in numbers. But to be fair, for as many bad things I have heard about KDMC I've probably heard just as many about the union there. <quoted text>

There are definitely problems with the union locally. But honestly, most of the unions problems there is that we just don't have the numbers. And, to be honest, many members feel that SEIU let them down during last contract negotiations. But I still strongly feel that we are still better off with this union than none at all.

But are the patients??????

uniongal wrote:

<quoted text>There are definitely problems with the union locally. But honestly, most of the unions problems there is that we just don't have the numbers. And, to be honest, many members feel that SEIU let them down during last contract negotiations. But I still strongly feel that we are still better off with this union than none at all.

Bashing Seiu again...when u better look across the street at those greedy bast@#ds. Dear God...you talking about the pot calling the kettle black! Btw...if u don't want to be a part of the Union...get a non union job!!

Kdmc what a wonderful play to get laid off from

#1 Unions have no place when people's lives are at stake. Unions do a great job and they have their place, but that place is not in a hospital. As a retired nurse of 45 years, I have worked all over the country in both types of facilities, including the Cleveland Clinic, OSU Medical Center, UK Medical Center and various community hospitals. I have never worked at KDMC, but in my experiences, large state funded facilities fucntion well with unions but not-for-profit community hospitals do not; in community hospitals with union nursing staff, patient care suffers. Just pray KDMC isn't taken over by a profit-based private company - look up the Columbia/HCA disaster of a few years back.
#2 KDMC's #1 problem is consistently stated as Fred Jackson and the Board by everyone but Fred Jackson and the Board. Hmmmmmmmmm.
#3 Funding private organizations (like hospitals) from primarily public funds (like Medicare and Medicaid) is a recipe for disaster. Problems like this will be more and more over the next few years if we don't find a way to fix our broken system. I don't know the answer, but it isn't this!
#4 Despite what anyone says KDMC is still the only hospital in the state of Kentucky that is both Chest Pain Accredited and Heart Failure Accredited by the SCPC and still is listed as accredited by the society - the rumor they lost it is apparantly false according the the SCPC webpage. KDMC is also the highest rated hospital in the state of Kentucky for Cardiac Surgery, top 5% in the US, and their cardiothoracic surgeons were just rated 3 out of 3 stars, so if there is something wrong with your ticker you better hope the doors stay open.
#5 If KDMC loses Coventery it isn't KDMC that will suffer as much as the patients - they will have to go much further away for the same level of treatment, switch doctors, or switch their KY Medicaid plan. This is the state of KY's fault, not KDMC. People in Eastern KY are sicker when they seek treatment and therefore have more associated costs. Coventry officals claims they are not getting appropriate payment from the state for the cost of patients in the state esp. East KY, so make sure you thank your state congressperson today for legislating something they know nothing about.
#6 I agree that KDMC needs to quit the outreach center crap they build on every street corner and focus on getting back to what made the name - the MEDICAL CENTER.
#7 Prayers for the staff at KDMC, minus the top brass. I am not religious, but maybe the hospital would do better going back to its Catholic roots.

As a prior member of SEIU.... It is a joke!!!!! They take union dues but never actually benefit u! "here... Sign this contract that says you wont get a raise for 3 years". Really?? You're looking out for ur members??? Not hardly!!!! I would NOT reccomend anymore of KDMC to go union!!!!!! So glad I am not part of it anymore!

Montgomery Ave wrote:

But are the patients??????<quoted text>

KDMC has not been a good place for patient care in a long time. I have had several family members in that hospital and frequently saw nursing staff sitting out at their station gossiping about tv shows, laughing and discussing other staff members vacation plans, their recent remodel, etc. During that time, I was the one in the patients room taking care of their needs. And those were well-insured individuals, not state paid patients. If my mother needed something, and I would go out and ask one of the nurses playing games on her computer, they would respond "not my patient, but I'll tell so and so". If "so and so" was busy with another of her patients, why can't another nurse who is clearly not busy, respond to their needs? Or how about one of the "administrative" personnel who also spend hours of KDMC time taking care of personal issues while on the clock, run around trying to do PR and advance themselves personally, kissing upper managements behinds, etc. The place is a mess and it all pours down from the mismanagement at the top. I understand why most of KDMC's patients are welfare, no one with any decent insurance or money would risk their lives there. So you all should quit complaining about those patients, without them you wouldn't have jobs

They Need A Union..if everybody will stick together there's nothing they can do about it. You see whats happenng now. How long are all of you that works there going to put up with this crap. Tired of getting the shaft... Contact Cabel Hospital union and gets some Info. and get it started before it's to late...You don't have to put up with this.

the last thing that place needs is a union. There is already way too much apathy there, and sense of entitlement to go around for everyone.

unions suck wrote:

the last thing that place needs is a union. There is already way too much apathy there, and sense of entitlement to go around for everyone.

Only at KDMC can someone make 85,000 per year doing administrative work. this is Ashland for crying out loud

educate yourself wrote:

<quoted text>KDMC has not been a good place for patient care in a long time. I have had several family members in that hospital and frequently saw nursing staff sitting out at their station gossiping about tv shows, laughing and discussing other staff members vacation plans, their recent remodel, etc. During that time, I was the one in the patients room taking care of their needs. And those were well-insured individuals, not state paid patients. If my mother needed something, and I would go out and ask one of the nurses playing games on her computer, they would respond "not my patient, but I'll tell so and so". If "so and so" was busy with another of her patients, why can't another nurse who is clearly not busy, respond to their needs? Or how about one of the "administrative" personnel who also spend hours of KDMC time taking care of personal issues while on the clock, run around trying to do PR and advance themselves personally, kissing upper managements behinds, etc. The place is a mess and it all pours down from the mismanagement at the top. I understand why most of KDMC's patients are welfare, no one with any decent insurance or money would risk their lives there. So you all should quit complaining about those patients, without them you wouldn't have jobs

Playing games on the computer? Highly unlikely...considering our computers won't even access stuff like that online. If you had a clue of the amount of computer work they must be done every shift you would know why the nurses are on the computers constantly. It's hours worth of charting. And, nurses are assigned patient's....they don't just randomly care for whoever is on the floor. The charge nurse is at the desk all day, on the computer, on the phone. That is their job. And, sorry if there is chit chat about everyday life going on in the mix. People have no clue what nurses have to do besides running family members cups of ice on command.