Five Questions with: Linda McDonald

"Members made significant concessions over these past years in an effort to keep the hospital operating and servicing the community they love."

In late March, employees at L+M Westerly Hospital represented by the United Nurses and Allied Professionals (UNAP) union ratified a new three-year contract that restores raises, pensions and other benefits workers gave back as the hospital went through receivership and a merger.
Two local chapters of UNAP operate at Westerly, representing 200 nurses and allied professionals and 220 servers and maintenance employees.
Westerly filed for receivership late in 2011 and after significant cost-cutting measures were put in place, was acquired in 2013 by Lawrence and Memorial Hospital, of New London, CT.
All told, UNAP represents 6,500 workers in Rhode Island, Connecticut and Vermont. Linda McDonald, a registered nurse, is the union’s president.

PBN: What are the major takeaways from the recent contract agreement with L+M Westerly Hospital?
MCDONALD:
In this contract members received a fair general wage increase [6 percent] over the 3 year term. Steps and Levels, which had been frozen for some years, have now been reinstated. There is also a moderate increase to the employees’ retirement contribution to be made by the hospital.

PBN: Had members made concessions to help Westerly through its receivership and acquisition periods?
MCDONALD:
Members made significant concessions over these past years in an effort to keep the hospital operating and servicing the community they love. Employees have worked with no wage increase for more than three years. Their step and level increases have also been frozen for over three years. Employees gave up their pension benefit. They gave back sick and vacation time. And all employees agreed to accept a change of their medical plan to a health care savings account plan to save their hospital. Their sacrifices have been significant.

PBN: What is the overall environment for contract negotiations like currently?
MCDONALD:
Difficult. Cuts in reimbursements are making resources scarce. The past two years have continued to be some of the most difficult years in our union’s history due to the continuing economic pressures for our members in hospitals, as well as members who work with the intellectually disadvantaged or mental health facilities. Hospitals have been merged and affiliated and administrators want to decrease our pensions, raise our health insurance, lower our wages and decrease our benefits. Our biggest challenges may yet be to come with the first for profit organization taking over Landmark Medical Center and the Rehabilitation Hospital of Rhode Island and already challenging collective bargaining agreements.

- Advertisement -

PBN: In your view, is industry consolidation a positive or negative trend for health care?
MCDONALD:
Rhode Island’s hospital systems are changing. All hospitals will be part of larger systems. The first for profit owner of a hospital has entered into the state. Industry consolidations as it relates to our members may be positive for some members but for most it is seen as negative. There is a loss of community identity as the delivery of care starts to spread out. We are seeing loss of services and jobs at one facility to consolidate costs within the new system. The UNAP is working with employers for the right to follow their work.

PBN: What impact is the implementation of the Affordable Care Act having on your membership?
MCDONALD:
The impact on the implementation of the ACA is difficult to assess. The new federal mandates are meant to improve patient care and patient satisfaction. The incentives if met should increase Federal reimbursements. Until then hospitals are cutting back. Due to continued tough economic times, many Rhode Islanders still have no insurance or are underinsured. Until HealthSource RI enrolls more people, uncompensated care will negatively impact the bottom line for hospitals and negatively impact our members. The effects on the membership are leaner staffing, loss of jobs, do more with less and continued difficult contract negotiations. The union remains committed that the limited resources are directed towards patient care and not away from the bedside. They advocate for the best possible working conditions for our members, but also for the best possible care for our patients and clients.

No posts to display