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Baystate Nurses' Informational Picket on April 7

On April 7 from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., registered nurses at Baystate Franklin Medical Center (BFMC), represented by the Massachusetts Nurses Association (MNA), will gather for an informational picket outside the hospital located at 164 High St, Greenfield, Massachusetts. This demonstration underscores their ongoing efforts to secure a fair union contract that prioritizes patient safety, supports nurses, and preserves local healthcare access.

Key Details of the Picket

• - Date: Tuesday, April 7
• - Time: 4:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.
• - Location: Outside the main entrance of Baystate Franklin Medical Center (not the emergency department)

Nurse leaders such as Suzanne Love, Co-Chair of the MNA Bargaining Committee, express the importance of this action, stating, "We will proudly picket outside the hospital on April 7 alongside our community. Our negotiations directly impact nurses, our families, patients and the broader Franklin County community."
With critical issues on the table, they emphasize the need for a strong contract to recruit and retain experienced nurses, ensuring safe, high-quality care for the local population.

Main Issues at Stake

The Baystate Franklin nurses are focused on several essential areas during their negotiations:

• - Safe Patient Care: They aim to ensure that staffing levels are sufficient to meet the needs of patients effectively.
• - Staffing Protections: Maintaining strong nurse-patient ratios is vital for delivering appropriate care.
• - Competitive Wages: The goal is to secure wages that are on par with other hospitals in the region to attract and retain union nurses.
• - Nurse Protection Agreements: This includes provisions for nurses who fall ill or become injured.
• - Local Care Preservation: Maintaining the operation of BFMC as a union hospital to ensure continued local healthcare access.

Marissa Potter, another Co-Chair of the MNA Bargaining Committee, reinforces the message, stating, "Our ability to provide safe patient care is under threat because of the increasing disparity in wages between Baystate Franklin nurses and nurses at other hospitals in the region." They are determined to achieve a fair contract that safeguards staffing levels, allowing them to maintain high-quality, local care for their community.

The Importance of Local Union Nurses

In rural settings like BFMC, the ability to provide safe patient care largely depends on a stable workforce that understands the unique challenges of the community's healthcare needs. Unlike larger urban hospitals with specialized teams, nurses in rural hospitals often take on multiple roles, utilizing their versatility to adapt to various patient needs.

The integration of non-union float nurses from Baystate Medical Center presents difficulties because they may lack familiarity with the specific demands of rural patient care. By undermining the dependable nursing model that rural hospitals rely on, this practice could jeopardize the quality of care, increase safety risks, and add more strain to the existing staff.

By advocating for a robust, permanent union workforce, BFMC nurses are calling on Baystate to recognize the importance of investing in their dedicated team for the sake of the community’s healthcare.

Community Support and Petition Drive

To bolster their efforts, BFMC nurses are actively inviting community members to back their cause by signing a public petition. This petition urges Baystate Health to negotiate a fair contract that protects patient safety while ensuring continued access to local care. Residents can express their support by signing the petition online at www.massnurses.org/FranklinCommunity.

The petition states, "We, community members of Franklin County and beyond, are calling for a fair union contract for the nurses of Baystate Franklin Medical Center (BFMC) that protects safe staffing levels, supports nurse recruitment and retention, and preserves access to high-quality local care."

Founded in 1903, the Massachusetts Nurses Association is the largest union representing registered nurses in Massachusetts, encompassing 26,000 members. This organization is dedicated to advancing nursing standards through advocacy for nurses' welfare, raising awareness about the nursing profession, and lobbying for health care policies that benefit both nurses and the public.