REPORT: July/August 2006

Protest at Southside pushes givebacks off the table

by Rolando Tomas Infante

More than 200 Southside Hospital RNs participated in informational picketing on June 22 to protest management’s demands for contract concessions.

They succeeded in pressuring management to withdraw proposals to require an additional shift for RNs on 12-hour schedules and to slash on-call pay.

“Management heard loud and clear that we were adamant against adding an extra shift,” said Virginia Labusohr, chair of the bargaining unit. “Nurses didn’t want to give back time. It made no sense.”

“We’re working through our breaks and carrying extra shifts, sacrificing the scarce time we have after work with our families,” said Bridget Walsh, a Southside nurse of more than 20 years. “They were asking us to give back time that we already didn’t have.”

Negotiations, however, are far from complete. After 13 negotiating sessions, management still has other proposals on the table to erode some of the nurses’ hard-earned protections. The parties were also far apart on economic issues.

“We still have several issues to resolve,” said Jeff Schioppa, NYSNA labor representative. “But given the incredible turnout for this picket and the support the nurses have gained in this community,we’re increasingly optimistic that a fair deal is imminent.”