Palo Alto Nurses turn down latest offer

[FLOBRN]

I see the Palo Alto nurses ( am thinking Stanford) have turned down their latest contract offer. Wonder what the sticking points are? The article in the San Jose paper said they were offered 4%raise the first year, $3000 bonus each to not strike and increase in benefits. Must be something significant.

Anyone have any idea?

[MassED, BSN, RN]

my facility's offering a 2% raise - those nurses are nuts not to take it! Of course, I'm not a union facility! Dang!

[FLOBRN]

I hear ya. Out here where I work, they have instituted "pay for performance". If you want a raise, you have to participate in research, committee's that sort of thing. No more just come in and do your job then go home.

[MassED, BSN, RN]

true, that's how many places are becoming - I'm going to have to suck it up and join some committees. I just want to work and go home with my family, now they have all these additional requirements... the more you are forced to "volunteer" the more you will receive. My manager, on review last year, said that those participating in committees will receive more of a raise, and when I asked about spending my time to get my BSN in that year, she ignored that. The hospital values committee participation (for Magnet status) than advancing your education.... and not any more money for having my BSN. What the!!!

[caliotter3]

I read a comment to a story about this yesterday where the person stated that several adverse actions were coming about, to include that all Step 3 and Step 4 nurses were to be demoted and that future promotions would be next to impossible. The comment was quite convincing. If I were to come across it again, I would try to come back with more detail.

[linRdsNay]

I read a comment to a story about this yesterday where the person stated that several adverse actions were coming about, to include that all Step 3 and Step 4 nurses were to be demoted and that future promotions would be next to impossible. The comment was quite convincing. If I were to come across it again, I would try to come back with more detail.

Yes, that comment you read is true. Stanford/Packard hospitals are demanding way too much of the current nurses. For instance, Staff Nurse IV's must have their degree and be published regularly in order to maintain their Staff Nurse IV status. To be degree'd I can understand..but published regularly? Common..

[NurseCubanitaRN2b, BSN, RN]

It depends on which union is negotiating for them. What union is backing them?

[FLOBRN]

From the little I have been able to read, they have their own union - CRONA. I agree that the requirement to be regularly published is a bit out there. But if they require a MSN or PhD for that level it wouldn't be unusual. I do see where the nurses can advance a step based on longevity. So it could be possible to be at level 4 w/o the academic background. IMHO if you are at that level you should be allowed to stay there - "grandfathered" as it is called. If you want to change the requirements for the future, that's another story.

[katkonk, BSN, RN]

FLOBRN is correct...the sticking points are a change in requirements for Level III and IV nurse designations and clinical ladder. I have been reading about this whole thing with great interest. More info can be found on CRONA.org and on mobilern.com. Some very thoughtful postings have been made by nurses there.

[silveryscrape]

Additionally, the hospital wants to limit or eliminate CRONA's participation in the Clinical Ladder review process. Many nurses view this as another attempt to weaken CRONA, which would be a sorry thing, imo.