Maine Nurses Authorize Strike

[FineAgain]

Union nurses at EMMC in Bangor, Maine voted with a majority of 93% to authorize a strike if necessary. Management will not budge so a strike seems likely. At issue is staffing concerns! EMMC also wants to remove health insurance from the contract (so they can change it whenever it suits them); reduce PEP time to a max of 300 hours, make charge nurses take assignments, and only give pay increases to the lower tier of hired nurses.

Here's a link to the article in the BDN.

Comments on Unionized nurses at EMMC vote to authorize strike — Health — Bangor Daily News — BDN Maine

[NRSKarenRN, BSN, RN]

From June 17, 2015 Chief nursing officer Memo:

http://www.emmc.org/emmc/files/15/1592b965-c176-4b59-8dd1-f8d695b5b2b4.pdf

PEP time bank maximum from 700 to 400 hours. I believe nurses should be encouraged to take time off throughout the year to recharge, and I am committed to making sure nurses are able to use their PEP. The purpose of PEP is to allow and encourage staff to take this time away from work. We propose a one time cash payout of any PEP hours in excess of 300.

Contract agreed to 400 hr bank-- generous. My health system went from 320 to 160 hrs in time off bank 5 yrs ago with hrs frozen placed in payout @ retirement.