UVMMC nurses announce 5-day strike if collective bargaining fails

VFNHP nurses have announced a five-day strike if they do not negotiate a new contract by July 12. (File photo)

Burlington, VT – Unionized nurses at UVM Medical Center have announced they will go on strike for five days beginning July 12 if they fail to negotiate a new contract with the hospital.

Representatives of the Vermont Federation of Nurses and Health Professionals say the strike is a protest against unfair treatment by the hospital. They say the hospital is not transparent in its financial proposals and they believe the hospital’s bargaining team has no decision-making authority.

Deb Snell, president of the VFNHP, says the nurses deserve a clear answer from the hospital. “The hospital pays people a lot of money to do their numbers, and they don’t have enough respect for their nurses to show up and explain why they don’t think it’s worth it for the hospital to recruit nurses, retain them and make sure they can afford to live here.”

The hospital administration says it has a plan to hire additional specialist staff and postpone some scheduled procedures if necessary. All patients who may be affected by the strike will be contacted.

In a statement, chief nursing officer Peg Gagne said, “As a nurse leader here six years ago during the 2018 strike, I know how devastating the impact can be on the nursing community we worked so hard to rebuild together. I will continue to do everything I can to prevent that outcome. At the same time, I want our community to know that we are prepared.”

The union, which represents 1,900 members, voted to strike last week, with 85% voting to authorize a strike. Snell says 90% of union members voted.

The contract between the nurses and the hospital expires next Tuesday, and two more collective bargaining sessions are scheduled for Wednesday and next Monday. Snell said the union is working to prevent a strike. “Our patients and the community need to know that we have done everything in our power to avoid a strike,” Snell said. “But the hospital is leaving us no choice: Either we leave now temporarily, or we watch even more of our best nurses leave the hospital to travel, or we settle in at an institution that respects them more.”

UVMMC President Stephen Leffler issued a statement saying, “While I still sincerely hope we can work together to reach an agreement and avert a strike – and I share the view of many of our staff and community members that another strike would be painful and difficult for all of us – we must be ready once a strike begins to take care of our patients and community, and we will be.”

The two parties have exchanged proposals for future wage increases. The union’s current proposal calls for a 31% wage increase over the next three years, while the hospital is countering with a 20% increase.