As of today November 7, 2009, your SBMC bargaining team ended negotiations last night at 11:30 pm.  We have just about resolved non-economic issues, which are very important to our members. However, an important non-economic issue, nurse-patient ratios, has not been resolved. Your team is steadfast in their concerns for patient care and safety. This is what we do every day and we would like to give our patients all the time and care they deserve.  We cannot do this if we have too many patients.   Management does not agree with us that putting some type of language in our contract that deals with nurse-patient ratios will resolve this.  We disagree, and have since the beginning of our negotiations.
 
As for economics, the hospital has not changed their proposal at all and states there is no money for the nurses because of the bondholders.  They have now stated that this is all they will do for us, and it is their FINAL proposal.  We have asked for certain documents regarding both their finances and the pension plan.  However, we will not get this information until Monday, at which point we and our professionals will review it.  We have not given up on our efforts to try again, to reach a better contract for you.  We are going back to the table again on Monday.  
     
As for our KMC and SBBHC members, we are trying to plan negotiations for this week.  We will update you after that session.  However, it is likely that KMC and SBBHC will take the same position: that this is all they will do for you.  We have also filed an Unfair Labor Practice charge with the NLRB because of the harassment of our members in connection with the vote to authorize the strike.  We will use legal options to protect all of you from management’s conduct.
 
To all of our members, we are trying hard to reach an agreement that recognizes your essential role in the Hospitals.  No one wants a strike, and we are trying our best to prevent the need for one.  But we want a fair settlement for you. So have patience. But it is important that we talk to each other and us, NOT management, for information. There is strength in numbers and unity. We will keep you updated.

In Unity,
Your SBMC/KMC/SBBHC 2009 Negotiation Teams