University of Michigan nurses approve new contract
Related story: Standoff over: Details on the new University of Michigan nurses contract
About 4,000 nurses ratified a new contract with the University of Michigan Health System, officials at the Ann Arbor-based facility said Sunday.
The nurses had been working without a contract since June, with negotiations continuing since then even as the union conducted marches and talked of a strike.
At least 50 negotiation sessions were scheduled, in addition to mediation and fact-finding. The new agreement was reached Oct. 21.
According to U-M, the new contract includes:
- a competitive wage program;
- a phasing in of changes in health insurance premium changes starting in 2013;
- revisions to retirement eligibility in 2014;
- some modifications to how overtime pay is calculated;
- and a revised extended sick time/PTO program for an overall cost increase to the health system of about 3.5% per year.
Agreements were also reached on numerous other issues, according to U-M.
Voting started on Tuesday and concluded Saturday, according to the University of Michigan Professional Nursing Council. The new contract expires June 30, 2014.
Comments
Sarah
Mon, Nov 7, 2011 : 10:03 p.m.
It seems petty to slam nurses who make "an average of $70,000" and not even touch on the fact that so many others at the U make far more for doing so much less - how about Art School professors making $90,000 per year for working 2 days per week for 8 months of that year?
David Paris
Mon, Nov 7, 2011 : 11:48 p.m.
Sarah, I strongly agreed with your 11:41 (yesterday) post, but I wouldn't "slam" anyone making less than about a half-million dollars a year. And, YES, nurses deserve every nickel of that $70k+bennies. Congratulations on your new contract!
Professional RN
Mon, Nov 7, 2011 : 5:06 p.m.
I really struggle when I read such hatred in some of these posts. The struggle revolves around seeing comments made that clearly indicate a complete lack of understanding around the issues of health care and the sense of duty and obligation, we as nurses, have to our professions. We have choosen our profession, not out of the love of money, but out of a dedication to the nurturing and healing of the sick. We often work 12 hour shifts while waiting for a call to be mandated more. We are constantly bending, stooping, lifting, physically moving our patients for comfort while emotionally supporting them and their family. We have new ever changing technology, new medical break throughs, and detailed evidence based best practices to be knowledgable on. In addition, Nurses are subject to daily verbal abuse and more now then ever, physical assaults from patients and families. Nurses often work without the luxury of having breaks and if fortunate enough maybe permitted a 30 min unpaid lunch if patient care permits. Even the basics of running to the restroom can be a challenge. Yet through all of this, we stay the course and work another day because somewhere within the smile of a patient, the occasional kind word from a family member, and seeing the difference we make, we keep fighting yet another day. Nursing is not glamorous ,nor, does it make us rich. All we asked for are market competitive wages, safe working conditions, affordable Health Care Insurance, and the ability to retire with our professional dignity, health and physical wellbeing intact. We too would like to see retirement one day like our parents and grandparents have enjoyed. If we can not secure basic elements with in our profession, future generations will continue to leave and choose other professions that will offer better working conditions, less risk and more security. Patient care will ultimately suffer.. Just a thought from a younger middle age nurse looking at her future.
ViSHa
Mon, Nov 7, 2011 : 10:20 p.m.
Professional RN, I am really trying to see your point of view, but when I read the comments from your colleague Matt Cooper in all of these stories, it makes it really hard. I hope name tags are required so if God forbid I am ever at UM, I will use my last breaths to request another nurse. Same for any family members. It is a shame that more professionals like you weren't representing your profession in the media.
swcornell
Mon, Nov 7, 2011 : 8:16 p.m.
ProfessionalRN I could not have said it better. My son, daughter-in-law and brother are all nurses. I am an IT professional, they work twice as hard, have to know twice as much stuff and make half as much. And working for a Hospital is the worse environment. Most nurses have left the hospital environment because of this. If the hospitals want to get and keep quality nursing staff then they need to pay them and treat them with the respect they deserve.
Polyjuce123
Mon, Nov 7, 2011 : 6:16 p.m.
Its almost if nurses have no idea what goes on outside the walls of club RN. Nurses seem to elevate themselves into another realm entirely, completely going above the rest of the working world, regardless of how hard or demanding other professions are, nurses seem to trump all, even within the university system.
Terri
Mon, Nov 7, 2011 : 3:30 p.m.
I think that everyone who's whining about how the nurses have "screwed" taxpayers, or you, or other employees should opt out of nursing care for yourself and your loved ones until this contract is up. Doctor only care for you.
Sarah
Wed, Nov 9, 2011 : 7:25 a.m.
Funny you say this because doctors either laugh or literally run when asked to perform duties of a nurse. What happens if you need to be admitted to a hospital? The doctors certainly dont answer call lights, clean up feces/urine/blood/vomit, or provide the emotional support that people need when very ill. And yes you can go to St joes or some other nearby hospital, but if your condition is serious enough, they often send the patients to U of M, as we are the ones that manage the high risk cases in the area!
Angry Moderate
Mon, Nov 7, 2011 : 7:45 p.m.
Many of us opt out of UNION nursing care by going to St. Joe's. U of M nurses are forced to join the union whether they want to or not, and the rest of us are forced to fund them, so talk of "opting out" is a bit hypocritical.
2WheelsGood
Mon, Nov 7, 2011 : 3:52 p.m.
If I had the choice of a non-union nurse, I'd be happy to go that route. But the union has made sure that every nurse is forced to join whether they want to or not.
xmo
Mon, Nov 7, 2011 : 2:02 p.m.
Where is the "Occupy" crowd? Health care costs are sky high and these greedy Nurses just pushed them up higher! Forget Wall Street, Protest the "Fat Cats" of our Health system!
David Paris
Mon, Nov 7, 2011 : 11:44 p.m.
Last time I checked, nurses were still part of the 99%. Forget Wallstreet? Nurses are "Fat Cats"? Fox News is Gospel!!!
Basic Bob
Mon, Nov 7, 2011 : 3:04 p.m.
And insurance takes their cut, I mean 'fee'
clownfish
Mon, Nov 7, 2011 : 12:49 p.m.
Sad that in this country the ones under attack are teachers and nurses, and the ones being lionized are the bankers that brought about a recession. Yep, it is just too much to ask to give a 3.5% raise in overtime pay to people that save lives , but under NO circumstance should a man making $70,000,000 in one year have his taxes raised 3%!
Basic Bob
Mon, Nov 7, 2011 : 3:02 p.m.
No one I know is lionizing the Wall St. crooks. Anyone who allows their children to enter this field is immoral.
Jeffersonian
Mon, Nov 7, 2011 : 12:37 p.m.
Let's be clear about something. Health care is a business and health care practitioners of every stripe are most concerned about numero uno- and they should be. Patients matter too but its hard to envision how patients are going to benefit from a nurses pay scale, other than the wild notion that good service be withheld by disgruntled nurses if they are dissatisfied with their contract. But we all know that's not what they mean. Right? The problem arises when market forces are removed from the health care realm leaving coalitions of competing interests to bare knuckle every benefit they can. Competing interests also protect their turf. No other hospital sevice is asked to surrender money to subsidize the nurse's contract, so yes, the cost is simply foisted on top of the health care bill. The health care system is the most socialized of America's industries (although education ranks right up there) and poster child for what we can expect more of if government continues to fix our broken economy. We will have escalating costs- which in the health care industry have far exceeded any other sector of the economy- facts that can be easily documented by public statistics.
David Paris
Mon, Nov 7, 2011 : 8:44 p.m.
"Patients matter too but its hard to envision how patients are going to benefit from a nurses pay scale, other than the wild notion that good service be withheld by disgruntled nurses if they are dissatisfied with their contract." The latter part of your statement is indeed a "wild notion". But, to the former part of your statement- UMHS is constantly rated the best hospital in the state, right? Shouldn't the best hospital in the state (14th in the country) pay the best rate? Shouldn't the best hospital in the state WANT to keep the best nurses? And how do they do that, if not with better pay and benefits? These nurses have four year degrees, that's not worth $70k? Personally, I don't care if the 3.5% additional cost of this contract is "foisted" upon us, it really is trivial in the grand scheme of things. In your second paragraph you comment on "socialized industries". If you take a look around, the socialized industries are the only one keeping their head above water, what does that tell you? Maybe that we need more, not less "socialized industries". If these nurses were not unionized, and their pay & benefits were reduced to "market rates", or in other words employer mandated, where would that put nursing wages, and who in their right mind would spend four years in school and put up with the burdens of the profession from both, the needs of the patients, and the demands of a relentless management system, to work in their profession? I would pity the poor tax payer who would require nursing care under those conditions!
Sunshine26
Mon, Nov 7, 2011 : 12:01 p.m.
My mother, God rest her soul, was a nurse. When she graduated from the UofM School of Nursing she earned 50 cents an hour!!! That was in 1932. Like most RNs of today she was a college graduate. If fact one prominent doctor at UofM told me, as an intern, my mother showed him how to set a broken bone! I am telling you this, to help everyone understand that nurses are invaluable to the operation of a hospital. Time marches on, as does the cost of living. Nurses need to be paid a living wage. As Tom Todd said they earn penny they make. To the nurses at UofM Hospital: Thank you.
Sarah
Wed, Nov 9, 2011 : 7:19 a.m.
Not to mention Marshall, that the majority of us are not making 70k a year. That was an average with NPs and CRNA's mixed in that does not represent the true salary of a floor RN unless they have worked in this specific health system 13+ years. After taxes and benefits subtracted from our checks there isn't much wiggle room, especially with a family/kids to take care of.
Matt Cooper
Mon, Nov 7, 2011 : 5:28 p.m.
And if you had your way Marshall, they'd be making minimum wage and you'd still be complaining about how overpaid they are. Wow.
Chelsea8226
Mon, Nov 7, 2011 : 2:02 p.m.
Sunshine26- Thank you for your appreciation, gratitude and perspective.
Marshall Applewhite
Mon, Nov 7, 2011 : 1:47 p.m.
Nurses make what, $70k with full benefits? How is that not a living wage?
Bcar
Mon, Nov 7, 2011 : 11:32 a.m.
now if the union would only make it fail for nurses with less than 5yrs vs. the ones that have been there forever. Like never getting a big holiday off etc... Taking a play right out of the good 'ol UAW play book...
Sarah
Mon, Nov 7, 2011 : 4:41 a.m.
Some of these posts show how arrogant most individuals in this city outside the health system really are in relation to this topic. Maybe you should actually take the time to understand why we as nurses went with the slogan "taking a stand for our patients", instead of accusing us of being "dishonest". First of all this slogan stemmed from an idea the health system proposed, which read that within the new contract they would not allow nurses to work over 40 hours/week. Therefore eliminating their need to pay nurses for extra overtime. When a unit is understaffed for any reason, say a nurse calls in sick.... we normally try to call in staff on their day off to work overtime to fill the needs of the unit. If the hospital were to prohibit this from happening, the unit runs understaffed. Therefore, nurse/patient ratios go from 3-4 patients per nurse to 5..6..7, and therefore patients are not getting as much bedside care when their nurses are spread thin. This equals.......drum roll...... WORSE outcomes for our patients. That my friends is why this contract proposals were indeed impacting the safety of our patients. God forbid you or your loved ones are ever in the hospital and need nursing care... I know myself and those I work with have our patients well being at heart, regardless of what public wants to assume. We spend 12+ hours a day working to bring home a mediocre paycheck considering the sorts of tasks we must perform on a daily basis, and we do this because we love making a difference in peoples lives. I think we deserve a bit more respect than this nonsense being portrayed in these comments.
Sarah
Wed, Nov 9, 2011 : 6:59 a.m.
This is where it is still quite obvious that people don't understand the workload and responsibility of an RN. Aside from the physical labor and dirty work we must perform which is comparable to some other jobs, we deal with handling medication and in some instances calculating out the specifc dosing of very potent medications. Mistakes in this profession are costly, as lives are at stake at all times. A tired nurse working loads of overtime = more opportunity for mistakes.
snapshot
Tue, Nov 8, 2011 : 2:38 a.m.
actions speak louder than words. union rhetoric nonsense for more cents.
thecompound
Mon, Nov 7, 2011 : 9:59 p.m.
@Matt Cooper: what part of "and I know this is anecdotal and doesn't represent all" did you not understand?? That chip must get really heavy at times....
Matt Cooper
Mon, Nov 7, 2011 : 7:09 p.m.
And of course the nursing profession is the only profession where that happens, right, thecompound?
thecompound
Mon, Nov 7, 2011 : 5:27 p.m.
It's too bad there is not a way to crack down on the "calling in sick". I know several nurses (and I know this is anecdotal and doesn't represent all), who plan days ahead to call in sick if something comes up after they've turned in their schedule requests. No big deal, except then it creates overtime for someone else because the shift needs to be filled.
Polyjuce123
Mon, Nov 7, 2011 : 1:54 p.m.
@ Sarah I think you used the wrong word... "arrogant" is exactly what nurses have proven to be before and after their contract was approved. Apparently you didn't read the comments from nurses in previous articles calling the "general" public stupid, ignorant, and yelling "haha we won". Mediocre pay? You do realize everyone has access to pay information of UM nurses....something I would hardly call "mediocre". "The sort of tasks", is to assume you are the only profession that actually has some difficult tasks at work? Listen, many people in society work a lot harder than you, and in much more dangerous professions. The difference is they understand they chose their profession, and don't band together and stomp around in public spaces displaying signs of false messages. Even still, your comments are threatening and belittling, nothing different than we have seen. You have a job in which you chose, like everyone else in society you have the choice to either accept the realities of your position or look elsewhere for employment. Filling the needs of units, overtime, nurses being "spread thin" have NOTHING to do with what the nurses unit won, man up, tell the truth, its about YOU.
Marshall Applewhite
Mon, Nov 7, 2011 : 1:44 p.m.
Boo hoo. Cry me a river. Welcome to the working world.
Sparty
Mon, Nov 7, 2011 : 4:05 a.m.
My understanding from talk here at UM is that: The nurses lost on the issue of continuing to earn paid time off while on short term disability, although the name of the time off program has a new name. That practice has ended. The nurses lost on health care premiums and will pay what all other UM employees pay, but will have a transition period with increased premiums beginning in stages from 2013 until July 2014 when they are fully on the same schedule as the rest of us. The nurses lost on the retirement benefit eligibility program and will have the same program as all of us beginning in July 2014 following a transition. So, they basically have some transition time to get on to the standard UM programs but in the end, there will be no elite status created for the nurses despite their claim they were standing up for the patients. This seems a reasonable compromise for a strong hospital system and a united employee group.
Marilyn Wilkie
Mon, Nov 7, 2011 : 3:14 p.m.
Thanks Rob.
Sparty
Mon, Nov 7, 2011 : 2:25 p.m.
The 3.5% increase is inclusive of step increases, etc. and all wage related increases beyond the benefit programs I specifically was addressing.
2WheelsGood
Mon, Nov 7, 2011 : 12:29 p.m.
"and a revised extended sick time/PTO program for an overall cost increase to the health system of about 3.5% per year." So you're saying "the nurses lost" yet that "loss" is going to cost the health system 3.5% per year? Interesting spin.
Reason
Mon, Nov 7, 2011 : 11:39 a.m.
Most helpful comment of the whole bunch. Thank you for providing some concrete details about the final contract. I get so fed up on the bullying of the nurses/unions/public employees/teachers/etc/etc and just want to know: what did they want? what did they get? was it fair? Thanks, Rob.
Polyjuce123
Mon, Nov 7, 2011 : 2:27 a.m.
I'm still surprised the hospital didn't stand up to the nurse mob more than they did, its exactly what needed to happen but didn't. After exhibiting an excellent talent to threaten and belittle the general public with their comments in previous articles, ( and given current comments from nurses) I'm astonished the nurses aren't concerned about their public image as of late. Does lobbying for the following changes proclaim that nurses are "taking a stand for their patients"? a competitive wage program; a phasing in of changes in health insurance premium changes starting in 2013; revisions to retirement eligibility in 2014; some modifications to how overtime pay is calculated; and a revised extended sick time/PTO program for an overall cost increase to the health system of about 3.5% per year. No, and its sad that not one nurse has had the ability to be honest, even more sad is the lack of respect and belittling that most posters received after even questioning the slightest details of the nurses contracts in previous articles. A great university system like UM deserves employees that not just care about their "patients", but have the ability to represent a very respected university outside of work, not tarnish the image of it due to greed.
Sarah
Wed, Nov 9, 2011 : 7:05 a.m.
Thank you Matt.
ViSHa
Mon, Nov 7, 2011 : 10:24 p.m.
I believe one should defend themselves, but when doing it with such low class in a public forum, it does more harm than good. As I commented elsewhere, I certainly hope name tags are required at UM as I will never allow someone like this near myself or my family.
Matt Cooper
Mon, Nov 7, 2011 : 7:08 p.m.
And belittling, name-calling, degrading and insulting nurses without a clue as to what they do each and every day and each and every shift, such as yourself and many others here have done for months, is a sure sign of ignorance in my opinion. Are you a nurse? Have you spent 4 years of your life learning how to be a nurse? Have you ever saved a life? Have you ever done chest compressions on a dying patient? Have you? Secondly, if the nurses take a "grumpy" stance and feel a need to defend themselves and their profession against baseless and ignorant attacks, it is only because of the hatred, the vitriol and the demeaning comments made ad nauseum by people just like you, who question the nurses level of expertise, their education, their dedication, their professionalism, their integrity and even their honesty. If defending themselves against such attacks makes them "elitist", well...everyone's got their opinions. But I wonder how you might feel if all those same questions were being lobbed at you and your professional integrity, etc. were continuously insulted in every way imaginable for simply fighting for a decent wage commensurate with your level of education, experience and professional ability. Instead of being "grumpy" and insulting nurses and questioning their stance, why not ask what they were fighting for, and why. Perhaps then you might get a non-"elitist" answer.
Polyjuce123
Mon, Nov 7, 2011 : 6:30 p.m.
@ Matt Attempting to paint the public as ignorant by saying "as if you have any concept" isn't the best thing to do when trying to garner support. Likewise, workplace challenges at any level are common as dirt. The only difference is, nurses have taken a very elite stance against all people responding to these stories since day one, which has obviously made many "grumpy" to say the least. I could just as easily say you would be lost in my profession, but that doesn't qualify as a point of argument when you are simply arguing for your own financial gain. When you have a nation in turmoil, and many that are suffering, taking the stance as the superior and more intelligent "group" will garner comments as it has. Everyone works hard for their money today, and works with less to obtain that money, the only difference is, nurses have the ability to smile behind the wall of their union.
Matt Cooper
Mon, Nov 7, 2011 : 5:20 p.m.
And where in your little rant here do you suppose that wonderful university, and it's leadership team reflect some sort of respect for the hard working nurses that save lives every day of the week? Where do you see the university offering to make significant concessions to show a good faith effort to take care of the nurses that work so hard to make that university medical such a wonderful place to go for medical care? Do you think the university offered what it did because they are just a bunch of nice guys? No, they got the deal done because nurses stood up for themselves and used their legal right to bargain for wages, benefits and working conditions that reflect their collective level of experience, education and dedication to the best patient care available. It's just too bad that rather than supporting the working class nurses most people choose to degrade them, belittle them and question the very nature of why they do what they do, as if you have any concept of the what and the why of what it is nurses do.
average joe
Mon, Nov 7, 2011 : 1:52 a.m.
Nothing in the article to let us really know what is in the contract, even "...according to U of M". As for the "costing more for health care" concerns, what about the list posted a few days ago about the top ten paid health officials of Michigan? All of them made over a million/year, and are any of them critical to the patient's care?
bulldog01
Mon, Nov 7, 2011 : 5:21 p.m.
umpnc.org tells you what is in the contract if you want to know
snapshot
Mon, Nov 7, 2011 : 2:44 a.m.
All those "top" officials salaries aren't a drop in the bucket compared to employee salaries and benefits. It's a distraction strategy to keep attention away from the real problems.
braggslaw
Mon, Nov 7, 2011 : 1:03 a.m.
Be honest, like all others the nurses are only concerned with themselves. ME ME ME. At least others have the courage to admit it, you hide behind those B.S. "standing up for our patients" signs. It is so transparent.
Ed Kimball
Mon, Nov 7, 2011 : 1:44 p.m.
So I assume that "all others" includes yourself and you are also willing to admit that you are only concerned with your own interests.
braggslaw
Mon, Nov 7, 2011 : 2:17 a.m.
The problem is that they are lying.... patients yeah right...
1bit
Mon, Nov 7, 2011 : 1:33 a.m.
Not sure why it is a problem that nurses are looking out for their own interests. The Health System is looking after its own interest (and I don't think that "interest" is patients necessarily). It's a free market. They bargained. It looks to me that the nurses lost.
snapshot
Mon, Nov 7, 2011 : 12:52 a.m.
Congratulations Nurses, you've used your union power to screw the taxpayer more. Your politicians have been bought and paid for with union dollars. I hope you're proud of yourselves when 49 million people are in poverty and they still pay taxes to support your wages and benefits. You've managed to keep health care out of the reach of millions of people. I hope you feel good about that.
snapshot
Mon, Nov 7, 2011 : 8:34 p.m.
Actually the top 1% of earners pay 40% of the taxes in this country. My point is that even at federal poverty figures, Michigan folks pay about 4% of it in state taxes. If foregoing a 5-10 dollar increase in wages and refusing to contribute to your own health care costs will drive ALL the nurses out of the business, then I would suspect it would also drive down costs and the " inflated expectations" of medical personnel at all levels. Maybe doctors will start accepting chickens for payment again. You paint a picture of doom to the extreme which is a union mentality just because you don't get a "raise". You want the respect of a doctor...go to med school.
Sarah
Mon, Nov 7, 2011 : 4:49 a.m.
Actually, the top earners in this country (definitely not a nursing salary) are the ones paying the majority of this country's tax dollars... not those in poverty. Nurses can barely make a living as it is. If you would rather have it your way and run all nurses out because it doesn't pay to go into the profession any longer, I would like to see what kind of care would indeed be provided in hospitals, because doctors certainly won't do the work we perform.
snapshot
Mon, Nov 7, 2011 : 2:34 a.m.
Are you saying the U of M does not receive taxpayer monies?
1bit
Mon, Nov 7, 2011 : 1:31 a.m.
Umm.... what does the taxpayer have anything to do with this? The UM Health System is not relying on taxpayer money.
Tom Todd
Mon, Nov 7, 2011 : 12:33 a.m.
these Nurses earn every penny! God forbid you need one some day.
David Paris
Mon, Nov 7, 2011 : 7:48 p.m.
@Polyjuice- speak for yourself, the worst comments on this topic have been coming from people just like yourself.
Polyjuce123
Mon, Nov 7, 2011 : 2:15 a.m.
I, and (I'm sure many others after seeing the comments of some nurses) will do EVERYTHING in my power to avoid UMHS for care.
monroe c
Sun, Nov 6, 2011 : 11:58 p.m.
YEA! Only 2 years, 7 months, 24 days until the whining begins anew...but who's counting?
timjbd
Mon, Nov 7, 2011 : 10:24 p.m.
These armchair capitalists hate communism except for everything about it.
clownfish
Mon, Nov 7, 2011 : 12:44 p.m.
no greater whiners around here than those opposed to the established practice of collective bargaining. Too bad we cannot be more like those communist countries and outlaw unions, eh!
Basic Bob
Sun, Nov 6, 2011 : 11:44 p.m.
The nurses should thank all the working people who pay their salaries. It won't cost UMHS or big insurance a penny.
timjbd
Mon, Nov 7, 2011 : 10:22 p.m.
I think Bob is used to that.
Oregon39_Michigan7
Mon, Nov 7, 2011 : 9:09 p.m.
Basic Bob, you are WRONG. Allow me to drop a little knowledge. Prepare to be educated. Salaries for Registered Nurses who work for the University of Michigan Health System (hereinafter "UM Hospital") ARE NOT PAID FOR BY THE "GENERAL FUND" (hereinafter "Taxpayer Dollars"). Source: <a href="http://www.umsalary.info/" rel='nofollow'>http://www.umsalary.info/</a>
timjbd
Mon, Nov 7, 2011 : 11:33 a.m.
That's true of everyone throughout the economy. Especially those Koch Brothers and their talk radio factoti who do peoples thinking for them.
2WheelsGood
Sun, Nov 6, 2011 : 11:34 p.m.
@timjbd The rest of us? All I get out of it is higher health care costs.
timjbd
Mon, Nov 7, 2011 : 11:31 a.m.
Yeah right. It's because the nurses get a fair wage that the prices go up. Not the new $multi-billion dollar Mott Hospital or the last several $multi-billion buildings before those. It's that and because people have been suckered into believing that health care should be run for a profit. Don't worry, though. You'll get yours.
2WheelsGood
Mon, Nov 7, 2011 : 2:59 a.m.
So wait, there are literally millions of nurses in this country. Yet you're suggesting their salary and benefits aren't a part of the pie chart that makes up health care costs? This is VERY simple math. The nurse's union, like most unions in this country, are squeezing every last penny out of their employers at a time when the rest of us are fearfully close to being unemployed or already are. Unions only exist because their members see themselves as more valuable than the market sees them. But the market values them correctly (as it does all of us non-union folks) whether they like it or not. The difference is, us non-union folks accept our value in the market, or we look somewhere else.
L'chaim
Mon, Nov 7, 2011 : 1:40 a.m.
No, you get nothing. The UM has not announced an increase in prices. In fact, the Competitive wage they bullied nurses into accepting no doubt saves them money as does the major concession the won in reduced health care costs. It is NOT labor that has caused the price of health care to skyrocket in the US.
timjbd
Sun, Nov 6, 2011 : 11:13 p.m.
Congrats to the nurses! It took balls to stand up for yourselves (and by extension, the rest of us workers) in this economy but someone had to do it.
L'chaim
Wed, Nov 9, 2011 : 2:24 p.m.
Bravo Matt Cooper, you are the better man (although Poly may be a woman, I don't know, you're still better)! Clear winner of this round of "debate" with concise, accurate and mature comments.
Matt Cooper
Mon, Nov 7, 2011 : 7:14 p.m.
Well Poly, since you're planning on going to St. Joe's, you might want to remember that they generally get paid better hourly than UM nurses. So be sure to tell them exactly what you think of their pay scale as well while you're there. Secondly, your constant need to lob insults at an entire class of worker (nurses), tells me far more about whose acting like a 5 year-old than any words you've typed so far.
Polyjuce123
Mon, Nov 7, 2011 : 6:20 p.m.
@ Matt, Hey, if it meant suffering for a minute longer, St. Joesph is just down the road, and I don't have to wonder if the woman setting my IV is the same person who has the capability to act like a 5 year old behind a computer screen.
Matt Cooper
Mon, Nov 7, 2011 : 5:11 p.m.
Poly: I hope you remember your sarcasm and disdain for nurses when someone you love needs a nurse to tend to their injuries or otherwise offer them life-saving care. I hope you remember your rather obnoxious comment about the 'broken wing' when, some day, you are dying and need a skilled care nurse to take care of you.
Polyjuce123
Mon, Nov 7, 2011 : 3:07 p.m.
Yes, it must have taken some courage to stand behind signs with a false message while acting like a pigeon with broken wing, only to fly away and taunt the public after their battle was won. Great group of people.
Ellen
Mon, Nov 7, 2011 : 2:37 a.m.
Nice rant, L'chaim!
L'chaim
Mon, Nov 7, 2011 : 1:38 a.m.
Balls, as in testicles? To say that a pair of testicles (or just one -- would that qualify, if for example someone -a man, obviously- were born with only one, or perhaps lost one, somehow? I mean, would you ever say that what someone did took (just) a ball to do?) is what gives a person such a thing as courage seems a bit offensive, or at least very stereotypical, in a sort of male-chauvinistic way. And it does not take a pair of lactating breasts to agree with this, or shouldn't anyway. I, in fact, possess only the former (the twin set! although that's probably tmi) and not the latter, and I feel this way about the statement. Having said that, I agree with the thrust of your comment, totally, just not the unfortunate, trite, and otherwise offensive metaphor you chose to express it (with).