Nurses Unite: Demanding Better Wages and Working Conditions
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) – The home health nurses working for the biggest healthcare provider in western Massachusetts are seeking improved salaries.
On Thursday night, the nurses staged a protest outside Baystate Medical Center in Springfield. This action followed the announcement from Baystate Health about multiple job cuts earlier in the week.
For over a year, those involved have been pushing for a 3% salary increase. They argue that their earnings ought to reflect the dedication and hard work they invest in their jobs. Many of the protesting nurses cater specifically to individuals battling cancer or dealing with serious health conditions that significantly alter their lives.
Kathy Bishop, a nurse at Baystate, shared with 22News, "My patients often feel like extended family, attending everything from weddings to funerals and baby showers. When I'm not around due to illness, they inquire about my well-being. Our relationship extends far beyond typical professional boundaries."
Baystate Health has recently finished implementing a restructuring initiative that entailed layoffs, leading to a 7% decrease in its staff size from the previous November. The strategy encompassed several phases of reductions, with the latest round being the elimination of 43 roles announced earlier this week.
A group of nurses intends to convene with their legal counsel on Friday and also plans to engage with a union representative regarding contract talks.
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