Nurses at UMC go on strike for a day

NEW ORLEANS (WVUE) – On Canal Street at Broad Street, numerous University Medical Center employees took to the picket lines as part of a one-day strike.

They say they want better working conditions and improved negotiations with management.

“The negotiations did not proceed at the speed we would have liked, nor with the integrity and professionalism we strive for,” said Lauren Waddell, a nurse at UMC.

Heidi Tujague is an experienced nurse.

“I am also part of the negotiating team and am negotiating our first contract, but I think it is important that we have a secure contract,” Tujague said. The uniqueness of our hospital is the driving force behind this

Waddell aired her grievances.

“We want improved working conditions, including improved safety measures for staff and patients,” she said.

The hospital is operated by LCMC Health.

John Nickens, CEO of UMC and president of hospital services at LCMC Health, responded point by point to the nurses’ complaints.

“I personally created a UMC SAFE program where I meet with frontline workers and ask: What makes you feel unsafe? We have hired additional security personnel. “We are installing a weapon detection system,” he said of security concerns.

Waddell said the staff-to-patient ratio needs to improve.

“We want to improve patient ratios, patient-to-staff ratios, and recruitment and retention of our current staff,” Waddell explained.

Tujague said nurses in some departments at the hospital had little time for patients.

“I know that in our medical-surgical departments the nursing ratio is 6 to 1, which means the nurses have 10 minutes per hour per patient and that is not safe for anyone, the patients deserve better.”

Nickens responded: “It baffles me that the union would bring this up. We met with the union leadership. Your negotiator told us that staffing levels at UMC were appropriate.”

He continued: “That the way you determine those staffing ratios for a Level 1 trauma center depends on the acute situation. It is complexity driven. The uniqueness of our hospital is the driving force behind this. It is an algorithm that every safety net hospital in the United States uses, and here at UMC our staffing ratios are excellent.”

Nursing staff also want higher pay.

“We don’t get a fraction of what we deserve, we don’t get excessive money, we just want our fair share of what we make,” said RN Ory Mire, who said he previously worked at the old Charity Hospital in New Orleans worked was closed.

Nickens discussed starting pay for nurses.

“It costs about $32 an hour. And then it gradually escalates,” Nickens said. “And it’s very competitive for the south Louisiana region.”

He said they are reviewing the union’s salary demands.

“The union first gave us their figures in August and we are certainly in the process of working them out. The initial submission was, in our opinion, somewhat inadequate for this market, but we want our nurses to receive a fair market wage,” Nickens said.

Nickens said the bargaining unit at UMC consists of 650 nurses and another 150 nurses are not in the union.

He said 330 nurses were brought in from outside to ensure all shifts at UMC were covered.

“I believe we kept our promise of providing excellent patient care, giving back to the community and giving the opportunity to those employees who wanted to cross the picket lines and work, and we had a significant number of employees who did that did,” Nickens explained.

However, some nurses on the picket line said they would not be allowed to return to work until Monday because of their participation in the strike.

“I’m actually supposed to work tomorrow and Sunday and I’ve been told I can’t work tomorrow and Sunday because I’m on this strike line today and people have been put in to replace me and I’m missing three days of pay,” Tujague said.

Nickens said substitute nurses will fill those positions on weekends.

“This is something the union completely understands and I believe they are intentionally calling a one-day strike, knowing full well that if I engage an outside agency they will require a minimum of three days notice to get the replacement “Nurses, so this isn’t a lockout,” he said.

UMC management says it remains at the bargaining table and is committed to negotiating a contract with the nurses.

“So far we have had twelve meetings, six more are planned by the end of the year, we will start negotiations again on Tuesday and Wednesday,” said Nickens. “So we’re comfortable with our position and we’re working diligently to meet the expectations of our nurses, which sometimes don’t align with union leadership, and I want to make that difference.”

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