Strike averted at Ely nursing home

Just hours before they were to go on strike, licensed practical nurses at Ely-Bloomenson Community Hospital and Nursing Home reached an agreement on a new contract.The 11 LPNs voted late Tuesday to accept what hospital officials termed “a final offer,” averting what would have been the first work stoppage in the history of the local hospital.According to hospital administrator John Fossum, the deal calls for annual wage increases of 2.5, 2.5 and two percent over a three-year term that runs from 2005-2008, as well as a two percent raise retroactive to July 1, 2004.That’s exactly what the hospital had offered days before, when union leaders, who were seeking wage hikes of five percent retroactive to 2003 and an option to renegotiate in 2006, filed a strike notice.But rather than walk off the job, union members decided - after a day of talks with hospital representatives and a state mediator - to accept the offer.They did so in part, said union business agent Karen Burthwick, to spare nursing home residents from possible relocation and amid worries that the nursing home could possibly close.“We certainly don’t feel the settlement was fair,” said Burthwick, an agent for the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, the labor unit that represents LPNs and many other hospital and nursing home employees. “They didn’t give at all. I’m sure members had different reasons (for voting for the settlement). My observation was that there’s been a general feeling at least for some time, that the administration may have an agenda to close the nursing home or at the very least downsize it significantly. The LPNs care about the patients they take care. They did not want to be used as a scapegoat.”EBCH didn’t threaten to close the facility during contract talks with the LPNs, but hospital officials announced on April 27 that an extended strike could force the relocation of some residents.And for several years, Ely’s nursing home has been subsidized by the hospital operation. Those woes are expected to continue as state assistance lags behind inflation.Hospital administrator John Fossum said that EBCH needs to contain its expenses in order to avoid a shutdown. Since Gov. Tim Pawlenty took office two years ago, 27 nursing homes in the state have shut down.Fossum blames the Pawlenty administration for the Ely facility’s financial woes, noting both limited state financial assistance and tight state regulations on rates.“In a way we’re very similar to the city in that they’re limited in the amount of taxes they can collect,” said Fossum.Fossum said he was relieved by the settlement.“Everybody worked really hard, both parties did,” said Fossum. “I think everybody is just taking a deep breath here, after you do when you’ve worked hard to find a solution. There were very limiting circumstances to what we could offer.”Nonetheless, union leaders say they’re not happy about the proposal that was ultimately accepted.They contend there’s too big a discrepancy between their wages and those paid to registered nurses. The union also is pushing for higher wages between their unit and the facilities’s nursing assistants, who are supervised by LPNs.Depending on experience, wages for Ely LPNs range from $12 to $16 per hour, plus an additional $3 to $6 per hour for health insurance premiums.Fossum said that EBCH anticipates a two percent hike in state assistance and maintained that the offer was on par with wages paid at other facilities, and was all the facility could afford given an anticipated two percent hike in state assistance.Other issues of contention during the negotiations included mandatory overtime and grievance procedures.Two LPNS are usually on duty for each nursing home shift, in addition to registered nurses, nursing assistants and other staff. EBCH had made plans to contract for outside nursing assistance in the event of a strike, but Fossum said a several-week strike would have forced the facility to consider other options, including moving residents.And while the LPNs have settled, EBCH still must deal with contract talks with a bargaining unit that represents about 120 hospital and nursing home employees, a group that includes nursing assistants, ambulance drivers, custodial and laundry staff, and various other workers.Mediators have already been called into those negotiations. A session without a mediator is set for Monday.“They could still opt to go out (on strike),” said Burthwick. “And that certainly would have much more of an impact.”