WORCESTER – The Massachusetts Nurses Association [MNA] announced on Wednesday, June 30, it issued a counter-proposal to Tenet Healthcare (NYSE:THC), the Dallas-based owner of Saint Vincent Hospital, on Tuesday, June 29.
In a statement announcing its counter-offer, MNA called the latest offer from Saint Vincent, “the worst proposal made by the hospital since the strike began” and said it provided “no meaningful steps to the nurses staffing concerns.”
MNA said the counter-proposal, delivered to the federal government mediator working with both sides to bring an end to the labor strike, arrived around 11 PM.
According to MNA, its latest counter-proposal seeks a mix of four and five patient assignments to its nurses on medical-surgical and telemetry floors, prudent increases in emergency department staffing and the addition of resource nurses and other staff for response to changing patient needs.
MNA specifically disputed that it seeks a blanket four-to-one patient to nurse ratio. Saint Vincent has consistently criticized MNA for seeking a ratio across all hospital units.
Saint Vincent made a third consecutive proposal to MNA on Sunday, June 27. It was the first offer from either side since May 5. Saint Vincent has been critical of MNA for not making a counter-offer to the previous two offers.
Saint Vincent declined to schedule further negotiating meetings with MNA after it rejected the hospital’s May 5 offer. The two sides have not publicly disclosed any additional contact since that time until the MNA received what the hospital called a third option on Sunday.
MNA said the newest offer rolled back elements in Saint Vincent’s May 5 offer that eliminate flex positions and provisions on wage and health benefits.
The strike began on March 8 and is on its 115th day, the second longest nurses strike in Massachusetts history. Nurses at Burbank Hospital in Fitchburg conducted a 175-day strike in 1982.
This page will be updated when a response from Saint Vincent Hospital becomes available.
