Nurses at UVMMC vote on strike before contract expires

Burlington, VT – UVMMC unionized nurses are voting this week on whether or not to strike as contract negotiations continue ahead of the July 9 deadline.

The Nurses of Vermont Federation of Nurses and Health Professionals is organizing a vote Monday through Sunday to authorize a strike. Although they have been negotiating with UVMMC administration for months, they still have not reached a deadline before contracts expire on July 9.

The issue is wages, benefits and working conditions. Union representatives say wages do not cover the cost of living in the region and lead to a shortage of staff that has to be filled by traveling nurses.

Deb Snell, an ICU nurse and president of the Vermont Federation of Nurses and Health Professionals, says they are disappointed with the negotiations. “A strike is our worst-case scenario,” Snell said. “Our patients don’t want that and neither do we. But if our nurses continue to be ignored and brushed off at the bargaining table, we will do what we have to do to ensure the long-term sustainability of our workforce and the health of our community, period.”

A UVMMC spokesperson said the administration is committed to reaching a non-strike agreement as quickly as possible. A statement sent Tuesday said, “Our goal is to reach an agreement that builds on our ability to recruit and retain the qualified, compassionate caregivers who are critical to providing quality care to our patients. With four more collective bargaining sessions already scheduled, we look forward to more productive discussions with our union partners and believe we will reach a fair agreement.”

According to the union, the increased cost of living has caused many nurses to travel for work, and about half of UVMMC’s operating room and emergency room staff are travel nurses. UVMMC is considered the worst hospital in Vermont when it comes to pay equity between staff and management, ranking among the worst in the country at 3,520 out of 3,923.

UVM Medical Center has submitted a proposal that calls for a 17% increase for the entire life of the contract. The union’s proposal calls for a total increase of 46% for the entire life of the contract, with an immediate 5% increase, a 15% increase in the first year, 10% in years 2 and 3, and incremental increases of 2% each year.

UVMMC officials say the hospital’s daily operations should continue as usual should the union decide to strike. They write, “In the event of a work stoppage, UVM Medical Center is prepared to continue to provide quality care to our patients and community and has plans in place to ensure there are no interruptions in the care we provide to our patients.”