Disturbing pattern at NARH

I think I just heard administration saying "oops"

Ms. Bahnsen would prefer that the nurses have the only say in this dispute and that the hospital remain silent in the face of a disinformation campaign. That's a leftie for you. Solidarity!!

The real question is what is the overall financial picture of the hospital -- and what is being done to keep it viable? Look what happened with GM -- workers complained about the pay of the executives but the bottom line is that the business itself simply was not viable and had to declare bankruptcy. Once that was done, contracts were void and GM could restructure and regroup. I am not saying this will happen at NARH, but as an outsider it sure seems like the hospital is in serious trouble. Is there a chance of a bankruptcy and restructuring? If they affiliate with another hospital, will that void contracts?

I knew it was only a matter of time before someone wrote in and asked how the hospital can afford a full page ad when it's in such dire straits. How, otherwise, is the hospital supposed to match the MNA's massive PR campaign. Does Sally think the MNA got their lawn signs for free, or their radio ads? Why is it fair for the MNA to spend whatever it wants, say whatever it wants whether it's accurate or not, but it's unfair when the hospital tells its side? As for citing the nurses' salaries, sorry, but it's fair game when the union is always demanding more money and claiming their people are overworked and underpaid. I also find it odd that we're told by these letter writers that the nurses are being asked to work too much overtime, but they also want to never be told to go home early (and I agree the latter is a valid argument on their side). Which is it?

Yup wrote:

I knew it was only a matter of time before someone wrote in and asked how the hospital can afford a full page ad when it's in such dire straits. How, otherwise, is the hospital supposed to match the MNA's massive PR campaign. Does Sally think the MNA got their lawn signs for free, or their radio ads? Why is it fair for the MNA to spend whatever it wants, say whatever it wants whether it's accurate or not, but it's unfair when the hospital tells its side? As for citing the nurses' salaries, sorry, but it's fair game when the union is always demanding more money and claiming their people are overworked and underpaid. I also find it odd that we're told by these letter writers that the nurses are being asked to work too much overtime, but they also want to never be told to go home early (and I agree the latter is a valid argument on their side). Which is it?

The answer is that they want to work OT when they want to work OT ... and when they don't feel like it, they don't.

So good to see so many posters who coddle up to the powers that be -- to the boss ma -- to the Masta -- to the BIG corporations, and scream here that the lowly worker should just shut up! and eat any load of crop that's shoved down their throats with a smile.

And oh yeah -- and how DARE anyone raise a question about , say, a Wall St. banker who gets,(or steals) a $5Million Bonus for the second quarter. Don't complain about walmart workers work conditions -- oh no! not when sam's kids are all billionaires --(remember -- sam used to buy only American made crop. the kids did a lot to change that).

No Sireee. Big Multi-national corps, donny trump, gates, and all the rest way up at the top are to be honored with awe. All them smuck workers got no business complaining. Being happy the got a job is the extent of having a freedom of speech. It's almost a case of, "Gee I wish I had thought of that but couldn't -- so hey you! Shut UP!" That type of brilliance is intoxicating.

hard dude wrote:

So good to see so many posters who coddle up to the powers that be -- to the boss ma -- to the Masta -- to the BIG corporations, and scream here that the lowly worker should just shut up! and eat any load of crop that's shoved down their throats with a smile.
And oh yeah -- and how DARE anyone raise a question about , say, a Wall St. banker who gets,(or steals) a $5Million Bonus for the second quarter. Don't complain about walmart workers work conditions -- oh no! not when sam's kids are all billionaires --(remember -- sam used to buy only American made crop. the kids did a lot to change that).
No Sireee. Big Multi-national corps, donny trump, gates, and all the rest way up at the top are to be honored with awe. All them smuck workers got no business complaining. Being happy the got a job is the extent of having a freedom of speech. It's almost a case of, "Gee I wish I had thought of that but couldn't -- so hey you! Shut UP!" That type of brilliance is intoxicating.

Yeah, because not-for-profit healthcare in this country is to much like Wall Street. Your comparison falls flat, sir.

hard dude wrote:

So good to see so many posters who coddle up to the powers that be -- to the boss ma -- to the Masta -- to the BIG corporations, and scream here that the lowly worker should just shut up! and eat any load of crop that's shoved down their throats with a smile.
And oh yeah -- and how DARE anyone raise a question about , say, a Wall St. banker who gets,(or steals) a $5Million Bonus for the second quarter. Don't complain about walmart workers work conditions -- oh no! not when sam's kids are all billionaires --(remember -- sam used to buy only American made crop. the kids did a lot to change that).
No Sireee. Big Multi-national corps, donny trump, gates, and all the rest way up at the top are to be honored with awe. All them smuck workers got no business complaining. Being happy the got a job is the extent of having a freedom of speech. It's almost a case of, "Gee I wish I had thought of that but couldn't -- so hey you! Shut UP!" That type of brilliance is intoxicating.

Your comparison is laughable. NARH is, in your mind, the equivalent of a big multinational corporation? Palmisano makes the same as the chair of Walmart? The nurses at NARH are treated like minimum wage workers by the evil Man? I bet a lot of people who live in North Berkshire wish they were treated so horribly by their employer while being paid 88-grand a year, no co-pay health plan, 7 to 9 weeks of vacation a year. Yeah, just awful working conditions, I'd say.

No, you guys read that wrong, or something.

The comparison to those outside outfits was in regards to the posters who are against unions and big business corps.

If you read the first sentence it is about posters --- NOT nurses. There is no mention of NARH or nurses. So, it is what it is. Reading comprehension is like a lady. Some guys get it --- others don't.

excuse me:

"The comparison to those outside outfits was in regards to the posters who are against unions and big business corps."

Should have been written:

The comparison to those outside outfits was in regards to the posters who are against unions and workers and FOR big business corps who exploit them.

I'm a nurse at the hospital, most nurses work less than 40 hours a week. The $88000.00 pay that the board of trustees came up with is based on a top of the pay scale nurse who has worked there for 40 plus years at 40 hours a week. So thats wrong.
I can't even count on one hand the nurses that have a 40 hour committment.
There is no such thing as no copay health insurance, blue cross/blue shield has subscriber co pays, so thats wrong.
Nurses who work over 20 years there can recieve 5 weeks vacation, not 7 to 9!! There are no more vacation days for years worked after 20 years. So that is wrong!
The argument here is not about any of this, it is about having a committed weekly schedule, and keeping it!, not being sent home or told not to come in if the census is low. I don't think any of you would be able to accept that either!

Wrong info wrote:

I'm a nurse at the hospital, most nurses work less than 40 hours a week. The $88000.00 pay that the board of trustees came up with is based on a top of the pay scale nurse who has worked there for 40 plus years at 40 hours a week. So thats wrong.
I can't even count on one hand the nurses that have a 40 hour committment.
There is no such thing as no copay health insurance, blue cross/blue shield has subscriber co pays, so thats wrong.
Nurses who work over 20 years there can recieve 5 weeks vacation, not 7 to 9!! There are no more vacation days for years worked after 20 years. So that is wrong!
The argument here is not about any of this, it is about having a committed weekly schedule, and keeping it!, not being sent home or told not to come in if the census is low. I don't think any of you would be able to accept that either!

You're right, I probably wouldn't accept that, therefore I would quit and work somewhere else.

Wrong Info -- Truth is a very slippery item to believe in. It can be bent so many ways. And what it comes down to is nobody REALLY knows what's going on.

As a spectator of this drama, it is at time exciting. I don't believe there'll be any "Honk if you are for or the nurses' signs - because you can't honk a horn next to the hospital.

But this is old stuff. It's been happening around the country for some time. It just ended up here, now.

Every body wants a decent job that pays the rent, food, car and kids,(optional), and -- AND to be treated fairly for an honest days work.(There's that honesty thing).

Fare the well.

Wrong wrote:

<quoted text>
Your comparison is laughable. NARH is, in your mind, the equivalent of a big multinational corporation? Palmisano makes the same as the chair of Walmart? The nurses at NARH are treated like minimum wage workers by the evil Man? I bet a lot of people who live in North Berkshire wish they were treated so horribly by their employer while being paid 88-grand a year, no co-pay health plan, 7 to 9 weeks of vacation a year. Yeah, just awful working conditions, I'd say.

I wish, I wish. That's all I hear. Well if you had an organization looking after your best interest, maybe all of you wouldn't be so bitter, but then maybe not. Yes it's hard times out there, and a lot of people don't have jobs. I'm lucky, I still have one for now, but who knows for how long. My point is, how much do you give back before they are satisfied, and you say enough is enough? If they want to throw out numbers, then put them all out there. Begin with starting pay and all benefits for both nurses and management, then list in five year increments what there wages will be for the contracts they have now. Don't forget, in order to get the things they have over the years, something else was given up in return. Most of them make more money than me, but who cares, I know I don't. How many of you quit a job before, because of a crappy boss, or pay? Then add the years of training they put in. I'd fight too!!

Working Man -- You paid your club dues.Just for fun, take a gander at "Down Size THIS" by Michael Moore,(ISBN 0-517-70739-X). It's a fun read if seen as one perspective of a complicated system.

Every body wants to make a buck. That's why they call it money. There is some finacial gain to NARH 'demands' on RNs, and before that LPNs.

Youse guys is doin somthin.

Keep on truckin.

Is it equally fascinating to Ms. Bahnsen Connerton that the MNA has now taken out a full-page ad in today's Transcript? That's an expensive ad. Maybe the money could have been better spent giving it to charity, for instance.

The only solution if for the CEO to resign and the Board of Directors to resign. Anything else would be uncivilized.

If the nurses can't stand the "working conditions", they should resign.

If the nurses can't stand the "working conditions", they should resign.">>>..... ....

YEAH!!! And... If you don't like hamburgs, eat Hot Dogs!!

You people just make it all to comlakatated. Y dunt U jest shut up and due yer jobs. Its knot lik U dunt git paid.

Just had to make a simple post.

hard dude wrote:

If the nurses can't stand the "working conditions", they should resign.">>>..... ....
YEAH!!! And... If you don't like hamburgs, eat Hot Dogs!!
You people just make it all to comlakatated. Y dunt U jest shut up and due yer jobs. Its knot lik U dunt git paid.
Just had to make a simple post.

And simple it was.