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Indybay Feature
UMC Nurses Strike in Fresno
Joined by SEIU Local 535 and the Fresno County Peace and Freedom Party, UMC Nurses began a one day strike today.
With a nearly unanimous vote to strike and more than two hundred nurses walking the picket line, the nurses working at University Medical Center in Fresno, California began a one-day strike at 7:00 a.m. today. Walking in solidarity with the striking nurses were members of Service Employees International Union Local 535 and the Fresno County Peace and Freedom Party.
At issue are improved retention of experienced RN's, a "union shop," patient protection through adequate staffing and objective pay scales. UMC nurses were forced to strike when management failed to bargain in good faith after the recent assignment of a federal mediator to the more than year-long negotiations.
Represented by the California Nurses Association, UMC nurses are fighting a classic David vs. Goliath battle against a persistently anti-union employer who has flown in union busting attorneys and consultants from Ohio and Chicago – at a cost of nearly 2 million dollars. In addition, UMC is using scab nurses from the U.S. Nursing Corporation. At a minimum hourly wage of more than $50.00 per hour and a guarantee of three days pay for each days work, these strike breaking tactics are costing more than what it would cost UMC to meet all of what the nurses are asking for in their contract.
"Left unchecked, these expenditures threaten the financial viability of the UMC Level 1 Trauma Center and Burn Unit, which are the only such facilities between Bakersfield and Sacramento," said one of the striking nurses.
At issue are improved retention of experienced RN's, a "union shop," patient protection through adequate staffing and objective pay scales. UMC nurses were forced to strike when management failed to bargain in good faith after the recent assignment of a federal mediator to the more than year-long negotiations.
Represented by the California Nurses Association, UMC nurses are fighting a classic David vs. Goliath battle against a persistently anti-union employer who has flown in union busting attorneys and consultants from Ohio and Chicago – at a cost of nearly 2 million dollars. In addition, UMC is using scab nurses from the U.S. Nursing Corporation. At a minimum hourly wage of more than $50.00 per hour and a guarantee of three days pay for each days work, these strike breaking tactics are costing more than what it would cost UMC to meet all of what the nurses are asking for in their contract.
"Left unchecked, these expenditures threaten the financial viability of the UMC Level 1 Trauma Center and Burn Unit, which are the only such facilities between Bakersfield and Sacramento," said one of the striking nurses.
For more information:
http://www.fresnopfp.org
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I am a nurse in Connecticut. I have many childhood friends in the bay area. I not only feel a connection to the area because of my friends but an ever stronger connection because I am a nurse. I was appaled when I received some unsolicited, scab seeking e-mail. All the nurses have my deepest sympathy, and empathy. Good luck in your quest for much needed, and long over due, fair return for our services as nurses.
Thanks for letting me know about this company. I am starting to keep
track of companies that provide scab labor. I am sickened about this
also and was surprised that the demand for scab nurses is so great that
there are two companies that I know of that provide this service to
hospitals that have been struck. As a candidate for political office,
it has always been my stand that replacement workers should be illegal.
John
On Nov 27, 2004, at 4:25 AM, Shokite [at] aol.com wrote:
>
> John, I am a nurse in Connecticut. I have many childhood friends in
> the bay area. I not only feel a connection to the area because of my
> friends but an ever stronger connection because I am a nurse. I am
> appalled by this unsolicited, scab seeking e-mail. All the nurses have
> my deepest sympathy, and empathy. Good luck in your quest for much
> needed, and long over due, fair return for our services as nurses.
>
> From: "Hank Weaver, RN" <recruiting [at] crisisnurse.com>
> Date: November 26, 2004 11:47:09 AM PST
> To: shokite [at] aol.com
> Subject: SF Bay Strike Nurse Pay Increased
> Reply-To: recruiting [at] crisisnurse.com
>
>
> <image.tiff>
> <image.tiff>
> <image.tiff> SF Bay Strike - RN Pay Rates Increased!
> <image.tiff>November 26, 2004
>
> <image.tiff><image.tiff><image.tiff><image.tiff><image.tiff><image.tiff
> ><image.tiff><image.tiff><image.tiff><image.tiff>
> Dear James,
>
> I hope you had an enjoyable Thanksgiving Day with family and/or
> friends. I have some great news about our latest strike in the San
> Francisco Bay Area.
>
> NURSE PAY RATES INCREASED TO $45/HR!
>
> That's right. All RNs working this strike receive regular pay of
> $45/Hr. Combine that with this:
>
> You travel and you get paid for 48 hours at $45 an hour or $2160 just
> for showing up!
>
> Last but not least, just do the math on California overtime and this
> will be a VERY lucrative job action for you.
>
> This strike starts on December 1st and we are booking travel NOW.
> Don't miss out on a wonderful opportunity to work this OPEN ENDED
> STRIKE.
>
> Do NOT call if:
> 1. You are not CURRENTLY licensed in California
> 2. You are currently on assignment & your contract runs through the
> above strike dates
> Crisis Nurse will NOT allow you to break an existing contract!
>
> Please email us at recruiting [at] crisisnurse.com or call 866- 422-8235
> for immediate placement.
>
> See you in San Francisco!
>
> Hank Weaver, RN
> COO
> Crisis Nurse
>
track of companies that provide scab labor. I am sickened about this
also and was surprised that the demand for scab nurses is so great that
there are two companies that I know of that provide this service to
hospitals that have been struck. As a candidate for political office,
it has always been my stand that replacement workers should be illegal.
John
On Nov 27, 2004, at 4:25 AM, Shokite [at] aol.com wrote:
>
> John, I am a nurse in Connecticut. I have many childhood friends in
> the bay area. I not only feel a connection to the area because of my
> friends but an ever stronger connection because I am a nurse. I am
> appalled by this unsolicited, scab seeking e-mail. All the nurses have
> my deepest sympathy, and empathy. Good luck in your quest for much
> needed, and long over due, fair return for our services as nurses.
>
> From: "Hank Weaver, RN" <recruiting [at] crisisnurse.com>
> Date: November 26, 2004 11:47:09 AM PST
> To: shokite [at] aol.com
> Subject: SF Bay Strike Nurse Pay Increased
> Reply-To: recruiting [at] crisisnurse.com
>
>
> <image.tiff>
> <image.tiff>
> <image.tiff> SF Bay Strike - RN Pay Rates Increased!
> <image.tiff>November 26, 2004
>
> <image.tiff><image.tiff><image.tiff><image.tiff><image.tiff><image.tiff
> ><image.tiff><image.tiff><image.tiff><image.tiff>
> Dear James,
>
> I hope you had an enjoyable Thanksgiving Day with family and/or
> friends. I have some great news about our latest strike in the San
> Francisco Bay Area.
>
> NURSE PAY RATES INCREASED TO $45/HR!
>
> That's right. All RNs working this strike receive regular pay of
> $45/Hr. Combine that with this:
>
> You travel and you get paid for 48 hours at $45 an hour or $2160 just
> for showing up!
>
> Last but not least, just do the math on California overtime and this
> will be a VERY lucrative job action for you.
>
> This strike starts on December 1st and we are booking travel NOW.
> Don't miss out on a wonderful opportunity to work this OPEN ENDED
> STRIKE.
>
> Do NOT call if:
> 1. You are not CURRENTLY licensed in California
> 2. You are currently on assignment & your contract runs through the
> above strike dates
> Crisis Nurse will NOT allow you to break an existing contract!
>
> Please email us at recruiting [at] crisisnurse.com or call 866- 422-8235
> for immediate placement.
>
> See you in San Francisco!
>
> Hank Weaver, RN
> COO
> Crisis Nurse
>
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