| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE October 23, 2001 |
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UFCW RNs Keep The Care In Health Care With Union Contract At St. Johns Mercy Hospital After almost two years of negotiating, including a three-day work stoppage, registered nurses at St. John's Mercy Medical Center approved their first contract 721 to 108 on Monday, October 22, becoming the first non-government union hospital in St. Louis and the first unionized registered nurses unit in Missouri. The RNs sought representation with the UFCW after the hospital instituted a new program that, according to the nurses, began stressing profit more than care. On July 17 1999, the registered nurses gained the largest union victory in St. Louis in the previous two decades when they voted for UFCW Local 655 representation. During the 22 months of negotiations the 1,500 nurses rallied the support of community members, local and national political representatives and religious leaders to help reach a fair and equitable contract that seriously addressed quality patient care issues. Their actions payed off with a 3-year contract that includes:
"I am ecstatic. It's an excellent contract," said Kathy O'Bryan, a registered nurse from Manchester. "The areas that cover patient issues were excellent." "I'm pretty pleased with it," said registered nurse Susan Heiney pointing out that the contract establishes overtime pay for part-time workers such as herself after an eight-hour shift. She went on to say that the staffing committee established by the contract to hear complaints about nurse-to-patient staffing ratios will give nurses their first real voice in decisions that impact the quality of patient care. The UFCW represents 1.4 million workers, including more than 100,000 health care workers. |
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