Pension, Ratio Picket Topics For CPHNurses
POTSDAM - A proposal to freeze pension contributions and concerns over a heavy patient-to-nurse ratio are the two main issues that have deadlocked negotiations between Canton-Potsdam Hospital and its nursing union, according to a union spokesman.
New York State Nurses Association spokesman Mark A. Genovese said 150 registered nurses employed at CPH will hold an informational picket from 3 to 5 p.m. March 18 in front of the hospital at 50 Leroy St., Potsdam.
Mr. Genovese said the two sides have been negotiating since November and the last bargaining session was held Feb. 10. He said administrators and nursing representatives are scheduled to sit down again March 24.
He said the 150 RNs, represented by the New York State Nurses Association, have been working without a contract since their last four-year pact expired Dec. 17.
Mr. Genovese said the two sides have reached loggerheads over an administration plan to freeze or eliminate the retirement contribution to its nursing staff. He said the nursing association is also concerned about the number of patients new nurses are required to attend to.
Mr. Genovese said if not resolved both issues have the ability to adversely impact CPH's ability to recruit and retain registered nurses.
"One of our major issues is reducing the patient workload for graduate nurses so that they don't have to handle the same overwhelming workload that more experienced nurses would," Mr. Genovese said. "The biggest problem that nurses are facing today, nationwide really, is the number of patients that they are caring for."
Likewise, he said a hospital proposal to freeze pension contributions could end up forcing veteran nurses to seek jobs in other area hospitals.
"The hospital is proposing a pension freeze. But if you are an experienced nurse and you are looking to work some place, you want to be able to go somewhere that you know you are working toward something, toward your retirement," he said.
Canton-Potsdam Hospital spokeswoman Rebecca J. Sutcliffe said negotiations between the two sides are ongoing, but expressed reservations about spilling the labor talks over into the press.
"We're continuing to negotiate with the Albany-based nurses' union representing CPH nurses," Ms. Sutcliffe said. "Another negotiation session with the federally appointed mediator is scheduled later this month, and we intend to continue to work toward a positive outcome. We're honoring the process, and believe it's best that discussions proceed at the negotiations table."
Mr. Genovese said he expects about 100 nurses and their supporters to take part in next week's informational picket in front of the hospital. He said members of the public are encouraged to stop and talk to the nurses about work conditions and the status of contract talks at CPH.
With more than 37,000 members, Mr. Genovese said the New York State Nurses Association is the state's largest union and professional association for registered nurses. He said the union supports nurses and nursing practice through education, research, legislative advocacy and collective bargaining.
Mr. Genovese said there is a shortage in registered nurses both the state and nationwide, and that in 2009 the base salary for a registered nurse at CPH was approximately $47,300.
Mr. Genovese said the base CPH nursing salary for last year can be compared with $50,000 at Massena Memorial, $47,500 at Samaritan, $51,700 at Champlain Valley, $50,400 at Adirondack Medical Center and $52,000 at Alice Hyde.
