REPORT: December 2006

Erie County RNs say “No givebacks!”

by Mark Genovese

RNs in NYSNA’s Erie County bargaining unit overwhelmingly rejected management’s latest contract proposal on Nov. 30, saying they won’t accept any more concessions.

County officials have contended they will only agree to wage increases if the nurses paid for them by giving up some of their vacation and sick time.

“In public service, stable benefits are a trade-off for not having the right to strike,” said Bill Conley, NYSNA labor representative. “Nurses already agreed once to help bail out the county in a previous contract. Before the county comes to us looking for more, they should get concessions from other public employee unions.”

NYSNA represents more than 700 RNs at the Erie County Medical Center Corporation (ECMC), the County Health Department, and the County Home. The medical center has been run by a separate public benefit corporation (PBC) since 2004.

Complicating negotiations is the county’s dire financial situation. The county already suffered severe cuts during the past two budgets, which resulted in lower subsidies for the PBC. This November, a state control board overseeing the county’s finances voted to increase its authority when it discovered more than $50 million in questionable revenue projections. Now the board has the ability to reject contract settlements and arbitration awards.

“NYSNA’s concerned that the control board’s new authority will make labor relations even more difficult, adding yet a third party that must approve any collective bargaining agreements, after the ECMC Board of Managers and the County Legislature,” said Martha Hogarth, associate director of NYSNA’s Economic & General Welfare program.

“We believe the medical center’s relationship with the county wasn’t properly established when the public benefit corporation was created,” Hogarth added.

“According to the legislation, employees work for the PBC but are still considered to be county employees. This statute is inconsistent and flawed.”

Causing more uncertainty is the medical center’s targeting by the state Hospital Closing Commission for a merger with the private Kaleida Health System. The two systems had discussed merging before, but talks failed. If the commission’s plan becomes law, the two systems would have to merge by December 2007 or one would face closure.

“ECMC is a vital resource for this community,” said Rhonda Ahlheim, co-chair of NYSNA’s bargaining unit at ECMC.

“Two Buffalo police officers were seriously injured on duty recently. The police didn’t hesitate to bring the officers to ECMC for treatment. They’ll survive due to our experienced trauma team. No other facility in this area does what we do better.”

As this edition of Report went to press, the nurses were given a new contract proposal, which the county demanded they ratify by Dec. 13 in order for the Medical Center to receive a $15 million subsidy from the county.

NYSNA is supporting the nurses’ campaign by arranging for a display billboard to appear on one of the Buffalo area’s major highways, saying: “We save lives every day. Erie County nurses deserve a fair contract. It’s a matter of RESPECT.”