City of Somerville header
File #: 211810    Version: 1
Type: Resolution Status: Approved
File created: 5/10/2021 In control: City Council
On agenda: 5/13/2021 Final action: 5/13/2021
Enactment date: 5/13/2021 Enactment #: 211810
Title: Standing in solidarity with the MA Nurses Association nurses campaigning for fair contract negotiations with the Cambridge Health Alliance.
Sponsors: Wilfred N. Mbah, Jefferson Thomas ("J.T.") Scott, Ben Ewen-Campen, Jesse Clingan, Katjana Ballantyne, Kristen Strezo, Lance L. Davis, Mark Niedergang, Mary Jo Rossetti, Matthew McLaughlin, William A. White Jr.

  Agenda Text

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Standing in solidarity with the MA Nurses Association nurses campaigning for fair contract negotiations with the Cambridge Health Alliance.

 

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Official Text

WHEREAS:                     In January 2019, local nurses who are members of the Massachusetts Nurses Association (MNA) union began negotiations with the Cambridge Health Alliance (CHA) to work towards new contracts at three regional locations-Cambridge Hospital, employing 500 MNA nurses, Everett Hospital, employing 200, and Somerville Hospital, employing 60; and

WHEREAS:                     In the wake of the outbreak of COVID-19, negotiations halted for six months as nurses served on the front lines of the pandemic, saving lives and risking their own even as they petitioned CHA for more adequate personal protective equipment; and

WHEREAS:                     Despite this sacrifice, the CHA administration has not paid retroactive pay increases they deserve for their service or settled terms on a number of important issues; and

WHEREAS:                     CHA nurses and healthcare professionals have asked for patient assignment limits for charge nurses, who are already tasked with coordinating hospital units and their fellow nurses; and

WHEREAS:                     CHA nurses and healthcare professionals have asked for changes the nurses’ time off accrual systems so that long-serving nurses don’t lose their earned time off; and

WHEREAS:                     CHA nurses and healthcare professionals (HCPs) have asked to join the nurses’ MNA bargaining unit; and

WHEREAS:                     As of May 2020, the CHA received nearly $50 million in federal funding to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, which should be shared fairly with the nurses who are the ones responding every day with the lifesaving care that kept the hospitals going; and

WHEREAS:                     The CHA is led by its CEO and governed by a board of trustees which includes prominent residents from the City of Somerville; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT

RESOLVED:                     That the Somerville City Council go on record standing in solidarity with the MNA nurses campaigning for fair contract negotiations with Cambridge Health Alliance at the Cambridge Hospital, Everett Hospital, and Somerville Hospital; AND BE IT FURTHER

RESOLVED:                     That the City Council urges the CHA administration to begin contract negotiations with the MNA nurses as soon as possible, and bargain with them in good faith to meet their demands, which they have more than earned saving lives and administering treatment at the front line of this pandemic; AND BE IT FURTHER

RESOLVED:                     That the City Clerk be and hereby is requested to forward copies of this resolution to members of the CHA administration, State delegation, and the Somerville MNA union local.