Eight Meetings Not Enough For Sacred Heart, Nurses ‘Big Issues Are Still Out There,’ But Sides To Meet Again Monday

FOR THE RECORD (January 16, 1998): Definition wrong: An LPN is a licensed practical nurse. A story in Wednesday’s paper said otherwise.

Nurses at Sacred Heart Medical Center might picket or even strike if hospital management sticks to its current contract proposal.

The 1,123 registered nurses at the hospital have been working without a contract since Dec. 31. The negotiating teams for the nurses and management met for their eighth and final scheduled time Tuesday.

Both management and the nurses, represented by the Washington State Nurses Association, have made concessions. A federal mediator has been involved since Monday.

But at the end of the day Tuesday, nurses said they were still not satisfied with the hospital’s handling of patient safety issues, the proposed skill mix of nurses and unlicensed personnel, and the hospital’s request to require nurses to be on mandatory call.

“All the big issues are still out there,” said Barbara Heimbigner, co-chairwoman for the Sacred Heart unit of the Washington State Nurses Association.

Hospital administrators said through a spokeswoman that negotiations were continuing. Management was optimistic about a settlement.

“The proposals have continued to go back and forth,” said Marilyn Thordarson, hospital spokeswoman.

That will continue. Late Tuesday, the negotiating teams decided to schedule one more meeting for Monday. This means that Sacred Heart management could come forward with a proposal that would keep nurses from walking.

If the hospital management had chosen not to meet any further with the nurses, the negotiating team would have recommended that the nurses vote against the hospital’s proposal.

After Monday’s meeting, the nurses will decide whether to accept the administration’s proposal, do an informational picket or strike.

If the nurses choose to informationally picket, they would still work their regular hours and would picket on their own time.

If the nurses choose to strike, the strikers would stop working their regular shifts. Exceptions could be made for emergencies.

The nurses must give 10 days notice if they choose to picket or strike.

“Nurses do not want to go on strike,” Mary Grassi said. “Nurses do not want to go and picket. But if their backs are up against the wall, they will.”

Grassi was one of more than 300 nurses gathered at an informational union meeting Tuesday morning at the Carpenters Local on West Mission.

At the meeting, the nurses cheered, laughed and at least once gave a standing ovation to the statement that a nurse should not be undervalued.

“The nurses are tired of being treated like they don’t matter to the hospital,” said Diane Carr, who had her two children with her. “They want respect, and they’re willing to back it up.”

The nurses are vying for a contract in a health-care world intent on cutting costs while caring for sicker patients.

It’s a national issue. Insurance reimbursements to hospitals are constantly being ratcheted down. Technology has jumped by leaps and bounds. This means sicker patients with shorter hospital stays.

“A nurse is supposed to look at a patient’s body, mind and soul,” Susan Watters said. “We’re in and out of their rooms so fast, we don’t have time.”

On Tuesday, nurses wore white ribbons pinned to their lapels as a symbol for nurse solidarity. Nurses said they wanted input on the hospital’s plan for staffing.

For instance, they said, they’re worried that the hospital plans to replace licensed professional nurses with nurses’ aides. Aides don’t have as much schooling and training as licensed professional nurses.

Nurses also want to avoid being placed on mandatory call.

Union members also want membership to be mandatory in the Washington State Nurses Association. It’s voluntary now, and that’s how Sacred Heart would like it to stay, Heimbigner said.

Nurses are also concerned about wages, still behind comparable nurses in Seattle.

Management originally proposed no wage increase but now has proposed an increase of 1.9 percent the first year, and a cost-of-living increase not to exceed 2 percent for the next two years.

, DataTimes