U-M nurses union unmoved by CEO's promise for competitive wages, benefits
James Bialke, assistant director for Natinonal Nurses United, gets signatures from nurses before entering the University of Michigan Health System's "State of the Health System" address on Tuesday at Ford's Auditorium.
Jeff Sainlar | AnnArbor.com
The nurses, about 200 of whom attended the staff-only address at University Hospital wearing red and carrying signs in support of the union, said afterward they didn’t buy that message.
“I want you to know we at the health system are absolutely committed to competitive wages and competitive benefit packages,” said Ora Hirsch Pescovitz, CEO of UMHS, at a staff-only address at U-M Hospital. “That’s because we believe a competitive wage and benefits packages are critical to every one of our employees.”
Elizabeth Cheslak signs a document at the University of Michigan's "State of the Health System" address.
Jeff Sainlar | AnnArbor.com
The two sides have been negotiating a new bargaining agreement for six months; the nurses’ contract expired June 30. According to Katie Oppenheim, chief negotiator and president of the nurses’ union, there has been little to no headway made on reaching an agreement, despite the use of a state mediator to resolve the dispute.
“We believe there is nothing healthy about this hospital while the nurses don’t have a contract,” Oppenheim said. “It’s not good.”
The two parties disagree on allowances for overtime, paid time off and heath benefits. U-M, citing a tough budget year and harder times ahead, is seeking to limit overtime for nurses and increase their health insurance premium.
At the state of the health system address, Pescovitz said changes brought on by health care reform will cost UMHS $100 million over seven years.
Nurses in attendance said that looming financial landscape did not convince them concessions were necessary. Complaining of high rates of executive pay, nurses in attendance were unmoved.
“It’s not equal sacrifice,” said Michelle Saldana, a registered nurse who attended the address. “They’re not leading by example.”
Nurses equate proposed increases to insurance premiums to a pay cut; they say experienced nurses will leave, hurting patient care, if the union takes concessions.
Juliana Keeping covers general assignment and health and the environment for AnnArbor.com. Reach her at julianakeeping@annarbor.com or 734-623-2528. Follow Juliana Keeping on Twitter
Comments
John Martin
Tue, Jun 5, 2012 : 6:33 a.m.
Mandatory overtime is right for Nurses. But Nurses do not want to go again for strike. Here is the details article about Nurses overtime. http://overtime.com/blog/overtime/labor-and-employment-law
beersnob
Sun, Oct 2, 2011 : 1:07 a.m.
Why are we in a race to the bottom? I do not understand why everyone feels that WE are the problem. ANYONE can form a union. ALL employees who sat back and took these concessions should have stood strong and said NO! Do not feel that we all have to be at the bottom. The eye for an eye mentality is killing all workers, PERIOD! The way the tiers for insurance are broken down is a joke. Anyone making over $53,000 is lumped together? How is that balance? I love where I work and would never give poor care because management is trying to short change us, and I do not believe any of my colleagues feel this way. I think when they type things it sounds like they are going to give worse care but in reality it is more that experienced nurses will leave and go somewhere that they will make more. Then you will have inexperienced nurses who are willing to work for less. Our acuity is like no other hospital in the state. Bottom line I also do not believe nurses think they are better but we are not willing to sit back and take a bad compensation package.
beersnob
Sun, Oct 2, 2011 : 12:52 a.m.
They want to take away all nursing benefits and make us "just like everyone else" so we will get rid of the union. Union busting at its BEST!
melons
Sun, Oct 2, 2011 : 12:47 a.m.
<a href="http://benefitsstewardship.umich.edu/forum.html" rel='nofollow'>http://benefitsstewardship.umich.edu/forum.html</a>
acedeucetownie
Thu, Sep 29, 2011 : 10:49 p.m.
I would like to point out that this issue has gone past the raw negotiation of the contract. It's one thing to fight for compensation-but what nurses are fighting for is RESPECT. The job of a nurse is physically, emotionally and mentally challenging. Let's not compare wages and compensation to other institutions, or other positions in the healthcare field or for that matter job positions across every field. Let's ask ourselves what we think nurses deserve, flat out, for their job. What price do we put on those who care for others? Is this really what society thinks is OK?!
Polyjuce123
Thu, Sep 29, 2011 : 7:55 a.m.
I hope all who choose to go to UMHS for care will remember that the quality of their care by nurses will be dependent on the compensation they receive, not their skill, or dedication to their job.
Paul Wilkie
Thu, Sep 29, 2011 : 1:04 a.m.
Th.is is public information <a href="http://www.umsalary.info/titlesearch.php?Title=nurse+&Year=0&Campus=0" rel='nofollow'>http://www.umsalary.info/titlesearch.php?Title=nurse+&Year=0&Campus=0</a>
beersnob
Sun, Oct 2, 2011 : 12:51 a.m.
yes $53,000 to start before taxes and all deductions. Union dues,parking,retirement,health care dental optical.
Paul Wilkie
Fri, Sep 30, 2011 : 4:24 p.m.
OK, entry level $53,000 plus benefits. <a href="http://www.umsalary.info/titlesearch.php?Title=registered+nurse+&Year=0&Campus=0" rel='nofollow'>http://www.umsalary.info/titlesearch.php?Title=registered+nurse+&Year=0&Campus=0</a> .
acedeucetownie
Thu, Sep 29, 2011 : 10:19 p.m.
If you want the accurate information you have to also type in "registered nurse". This search you have linked is purely nursing upper management, advance practice nurses and nurse aides. It's probably the top and the bottom as far as compensation goes, but the average salary is way off. On that note, for the registered nurse list, many new nurses are missing, even those who have worked here for over 2 years...I know this for a fact considering my name is missing. New nurses make the lowest salary, thus their absence may be swaying the information provided. Just a thought...
Sam Smith
Thu, Sep 29, 2011 : 1:54 a.m.
Please correct me if I'm wrong but I think that nurses managers are not in the Nurses' Union and are considered administration. What about the staff nurses, who do the work, salaries? Also I'm shocked at how little the aides make considering that they do most of the basic care such as toileting and baths! I know the staff nurses also do this care as well but the aides are outstanding and they work very hard too!
Sam Smith
Thu, Sep 29, 2011 : 12:11 a.m.
Dear Nurses, please answer the questions/comments in many of these posts or are the posts stating the truth? Also please answer How many hours and how often are you required to work overtime? This does not include elective overtime. Are UMMC health care benefits cheaper than going to an outside healthcare system and if so why not just go to the UMMC for health care if it is as good as you say it is--wouldn't that also be supporting where you work? Are you going to circulate a petition protesting the wages and raises of the administration to other departments to sign at UMMC? Lead by example. The UMMC is an excellent healthcare facility. I will try to continue to support the nurses but without questions answered or with some nurses' posts it is getting more difficult. If it's as bad as you're making it or if some nurses are that angry about the patient care they have to give, maybe people should go somewhere else! Regarding the TVs, etc. I hate to inform you but many other hospitals already have that and more. They also have where the patient can order food. These patient perks are job security for you. Some nurses' posts sound very bitter and resentful of patients and that they need care. The southeast Michigan area is saturated with many excellent hospitals. Many of these hospitals have excellent staff from all over the country and world including those graduating from UMMC. Competition is tough. Nurses in other healthcare systems are just as excellent and work just as hard as you do. UMMC does get some pretty sick patients but a lot more patients who are sicker and have little hope for treatment often stay and are not transferred to UMMC. How much are your benefits going to cost you and is it fair that nurses should be the only one exempt from the increase? I'd like to continue my support of you!
Sparty
Wed, Sep 28, 2011 : 9:36 p.m.
Why would the President of the University's pay be an issue -- she isn't a nurse, she has an entirely different set of qualifications, education, work history, etc.? Can't the nurses stand on their own? Their wages are based on what the market is for nurses at other employers. They are fighting to keep getting paid for PTO (paid time off) while they are on short-term disability! This is fair? That want to pay less than every other UM employee for their medical benefits. This is fair? Their sense of entitlement is unbelievable!
beersnob
Sun, Oct 2, 2011 : 1:08 a.m.
When all they do is cry POOR that is why it becomes a problem. Do not cry poor and then give yourself a $21,000 raise
Sparty
Wed, Sep 28, 2011 : 9:40 p.m.
Keep earning paid time off (PTO) while on short-term disability that is ... why should they earn paid time off while on disability ??? Is that fair ?
Sparty
Wed, Sep 28, 2011 : 9:29 p.m.
Some of these nurses are just irrational. They think they should be the only UM employees not paying the same rates for medical health care premiums because of factors that are not even related, e.g.: the new hospital building, the wage rates of people in other roles, the profitability or loss in the health system, etc. The fact is, ALL university employees will be paying or moving to the same benefit premium structure based on UM paying a percentage and employees paying a percentage. Most businesses have their plans set this way and even the State model is now set this way. While nurses may have been spoiled in the past, they need to step up and pay their fair share like every other UM employee and most other Americans who see their health care premiums continue to rise. They will keep looking for and continue claiming unfair labor claims as long as they can, but they only continue to look ridiculous in their silly red scrubs. Those that claim they are the ONLY "Michigan Difference" or that THEY drive an hour to work, or they comfort the ill so therefore they must deserve special treatment are ridiculous. It's their job -- their chosen profession. Every individual who works has to drive to their job, carry out it's assigned duties, and pay for their health care. These nurses show themselves to be out of touch with current economic conditions and really with reality if they think they are entitled to anything above and beyond what's offered to others at the same employer. They earn a wage based on economic value and pay benefit premiums based on economic cost factors (what the benefit costs).
beersnob
Sun, Oct 2, 2011 : 1:10 a.m.
Well then why do other employees feel that since they had to we should to? Why should I just sit back and take this bad offering? Because it was forced down their throats?
thecompound
Wed, Sep 28, 2011 : 4:01 p.m.
Is it possible to get more information about where the money comes from for new buildings and their furnishings? What percentage comes from private donors? The argument that "if the UM Hospital can afford new buildings, they can afford...(fill in the blank)" would hold more water if it is clear that they are taking money for their budget alloted for wages and putting it towards new construction.
Sparty
Wed, Sep 28, 2011 : 9:31 p.m.
Money for wages and benefits are not related to anything other than what the market factors require: surveys are done to see what others pay for nurses, etc. ALL UM employees pay the same for benefit premiums, so the nurses are not being asked to pay more than any other group --- just the same ... their fair share. They think they are special though and should pay less for some unknown reason!
Lady Audrey
Wed, Sep 28, 2011 : 2:58 p.m.
The difference between what the two sides want seems fairly trivial. If both give a little, can't we come to conclusion? I do think the hullabaloo about the medical benefits is strange since the nurses would, if I understand correctly, the same benefits as the doctors and staff who work side by side with them to provide patient care. Why should the nurses get a better plan than the rest of them or for that matter, for the rest of the unions on campus, as I understand they too, conceded.
beersnob
Sun, Oct 2, 2011 : 1:10 a.m.
And maybe those unbions hsould have stood their ground
beersnob
Sun, Oct 2, 2011 : 12:21 a.m.
Yes we should pay the same as someone who makes $220,000 and up a year. I make $65,000 so I for sure should pay the same as everyone else making a quarter of a million and up
bulldog01
Wed, Sep 28, 2011 : 2:45 p.m.
Take the contract as offered - enough is enough - also I want to have a say in where my union dues go - I am tired of supporting something I don't believe in!
beersnob
Sun, Oct 2, 2011 : 12:20 a.m.
They want us to take it so we will all think to ourselves hmmmmm Why do we need a union if we have nothing better than other employees? Which I do agree if we have nothing better why waste my $600+ a year
Polyjuce123
Wed, Sep 28, 2011 : 2:03 p.m.
"Nurses equate proposed increases to insurance premiums to a pay cut; they say experienced nurses will leave, hurting patient care, if the union takes concessions." These issues are becoming more and more petty, who hasn't been affected by "some" sort of increase in costs in this sputtering economy? We hear how UM has the "best" nurses, and the "best" care, but can we really say the "best" nurses will threaten to leave there job over slight increases in insurance premiums? Maybe its time to let the bad hens move to a different nest and hire staff that cares more about providing "patient care" rather than monitoring the actions of management.
newsboy
Wed, Sep 28, 2011 : 12:43 p.m.
Why would overtime ever be an issue? Working healthcare employees beyond a safe working schedule, is the point where deadly mistakes are made. I admire your courage and professionalism in the face of such a bureaucratic and top heavy organization! How much did Mary Sue pay herself this year, without ever carrying the burden of life or death scenarios. This tax payer will never go "on the cheap" when it comes to healthcare!
beersnob
Sun, Oct 2, 2011 : 12:18 a.m.
ROB They want to take away the PTO BUT they make you take a full two weeks before you are paid any short term disability. I do not think people would mind so much if they did not first have to use 2 weeks time
Sparty
Wed, Sep 28, 2011 : 9:41 p.m.
Keep earning paid time off (PTO) while on short-term disability that is. Why should they earn paid time off while on disability. Is that fair?
Sparty
Wed, Sep 28, 2011 : 9:35 p.m.
Why would the President of the University's pay be an issue -- she isn't a nurse, she has an entirely different set of qualifications, education, work history, etc.? Can't the nurses stand on their own? Their wages are based on what the market is for nurses at other employers. They are fighting to keep getting paid for PTO (paid time off) while they are on short-term disability! This is fair? That want to pay less than every other UM employee for their medical benefits. This is fair? Their sense of entitlement is unbelievable!
njoy1
Wed, Sep 28, 2011 : 12:30 p.m.
I would really like some details on these negotiation issues to make an informed decision. What is the median (not average) pay of nurses/executives? How does that compare with the median per capita income in Washtenaw and Michigan? What is the comparative employee cost for health care in Wash and MI? How does this compare at other public subsidized education/medical school facilities; e.g. MSU? How does is compare to St Joe's? Does the hospital routinely have nurses work overtime so that after years and years they have come to expect it (like assembly line workers in the 90's)? Personally, I would like to see take home pay increase (for a lot of people) because then we can get the economy rolling again. However I am aware that all costs allocated to patient care (including nurse pay and capitalized expenses of TVs) should be closely examined. What are the data that suggest that TVs, et. al. improve patient outcomes? What are the data that suggest nurse compensation ( or is it the perception of fair comp) improves patient care?
Polyjuce123
Wed, Sep 28, 2011 : 2:36 p.m.
@ Njoy, UM nurses are highly compensated (even for a nurse) as it is one of Michigan's premier health care facilities. UM nurses also have some of the best benefits provided by the health system, including retirement accounts and shift premium pay that further increases their total compensation. There is only one answer regarding the connection between patient care and compensation: there is no connection. As much as nurses attempt to make a connection, ultimately it is their decision to either move on to a different hospital, or accept their current compensation package and provide the patients with the care they deserve.
Kevin
Wed, Sep 28, 2011 : 8:10 a.m.
OK people.. I am sick of people not supporting anyone that wants to make a decent wage in this country. I guess if the we all live in poverty it is OK with everyone, but then again if we all live in poverty then we are all lazy. What is the point of getting a college degree if all it is good for is a low paying job. All these nurses are looking for is a livable wage increase to offset the cost of the healthcare increase. These nurses are hard working individuals. My wife is a nurse there and as far as numbers go, on a basic 40 hour check, minus what she pays already in health care for us ($500 per check), parking ($600/year), dental insurance, eye insurance, union dues, taxes, she brings home about 1200 per check every 2 weeks. Now that the hospital is requesting more, then she may bring home less that 1000 per check every two weeks. Do the math, that is about $24,000 / year. Now lets add the bills that come out a month, house payment, DTE, etc. These nurses deserve more than what they are getting. The university just spent millions on the new Mott hospital on things that is not needs. Each room has "42 plasma tvs, and expensive art that cost millions. But they cannot afford to pay the nurses. The university spent millions on new buildings for students, but cannot afford to pay the nurses. They spent millions on new "green" buses to help their image, but they cannot afford to pay the nurses. They spend millions and millions on all this stuff to up their images, but the one thing that matters the most that keeps the university going they don't want to spend the money on.. the workers. What is wrong with the people.. THINK... STOP using the economy as a cop-out.. they HAVE the money. NOT EVERY COMPANY IS STRUGGLING!
beersnob
Sun, Oct 2, 2011 : 12:15 a.m.
Polyjuice Really we are one of the best compensated in the state? Interesting considering that is not true at all. We have a much hhigher acuity than any other hospital in the state. We are benchmarked however in regards to salary against hospitals that surround us. Lets see I don't really think St. Marys,Foote or Hrley to name a few can care for the pt.s that we do. St Joe is good at lots of things but what can you have done for children there? Oh that's right they do not do peds.......
Sam Smith
Thu, Sep 29, 2011 : 12:43 a.m.
Regarding the parking, protest it if it's that bad but don't expect the citizens of Ann Arbor to pay for it!
Sam Smith
Thu, Sep 29, 2011 : 12:38 a.m.
I hear parking is a problem for everyone not just nurses and there are many other departments that work 24/7. Start a protest about parking then. I can't think of anyone that wouldn't support that issue!
Kevin
Wed, Sep 28, 2011 : 9:27 p.m.
Polyjuce123 , full healthcare DOES NOT mean fully paid health care. I see what comes out of my wife's check. That is my research. If everyone bends over and takes it like everyone is doing, then the long term is overall poverty wages no matter where you work. The average worker pay has declined already, but the "big wig" wages, and bonuses has increases. Like I said before, not necessarily nurses, but other careers as well, what is the point of getting a higher education when the wages for these jobs are decreasing and eventually when everyone takes more cuts, McDonald's would pay more.
Em
Wed, Sep 28, 2011 : 2:58 p.m.
@Marilyn, have you ever tried to park on a daily basis at the hospital? For both the day and evening shifts, the parking is an absolute NIGHTMARE there. You have to pay for at least a yellow pass in order to be at work on time if you commute. If you pay for a blue pass, you aren't even guaranteed a spot. If you pay $600 a year to park, you should at least be able to not have to worry about a spot in order to get to work. Nursing is a 24 hour job, but the buses stop running around 1am, so if an evening shift nurse stays over to work 4 more hours (until 3AM) and has to take the bus to get back to their car, they won't have a way to get back except for walking (great idea with the rapist around) or by a security escort. Even the yellow spots aren't guaranteed all the time. One thing that isn't broadcasted all over the internet is the hospital giving up employee parking. I believe they have given out a number of spots this summer for patient parking at the new Mott. Obviously it makes sense to provide patient parking, but you shouldn't have to step on your employees ALL THE TIME and not offer reasonable alternatives to the horrendous parking situation at the hospital. If you're interested in seeing it in action, just watch the parking B and Mott garages around 6:15-7:30 AM on a weekday. That will answer your question really quickly on how the parking situation is at the hospitals.
Polyjuce123
Wed, Sep 28, 2011 : 2:16 p.m.
Your logic is very flawed, nurses DO make money, and UM nurses are some of the best compensated in the STATE. The problem is that the nurses can't remain happy with full health, dental, vision and many other perks, they are more interested in being an internal police organization that watches the every move of the board. Do some simple research on <a href="http://www.bls.gov," rel='nofollow'>www.bls.gov,</a> or go to <a href="http://www.umich.edu/jobs" rel='nofollow'>www.umich.edu/jobs</a> to see how well a nurse is compensated. This issue of the quality of patient care being affected by the decisions is a dead issue, the only way it is affected is by the actions of the nurses.
Marilyn Wilkie
Wed, Sep 28, 2011 : 1:13 p.m.
Please ask your wife if your numbers above are correct. You are saying that she pays $1000 per month just for health insurance, plus extra for vision and dental on top of that. The $500 in parking costs are for the blue lots. That is her choice. As an employee I used the free park & ride service as many employees do.
Basic Bob
Wed, Sep 28, 2011 : 10:55 a.m.
While the nurses are a valuable and necessary part of the hospital system, they are not so special to be treated differently from any other UMHS employee. Would you have well-paid nurses work in decrepit and dirty rooms with broken equipment? Work in a hospital with incompetent or inexperienced management due to pay cuts at the top? All the niceties in the new hospital are capitalized and it will take years to pay for them. But the hospital employees must be paid every day. Health insurance benefits should not be negotiated in union contracts, because every union negotiates a different plan. Does the union pay for the management of the separate contract? Does the union pay for the additional clerical work by payroll and insurance claims departments figuring out which formula to use for each employee? Of course they don't. It just gets rolled into the cost of health care that you are so angry about. If you don't like the cost of health care, do something to make the system more efficient from the inside.
440RC
Wed, Sep 28, 2011 : 3:21 a.m.
U of M Nurses please keep up the great work you do, and continue to fight for what you deserve. You ARE supported by us that rely on you, your skills and your EXPERIENCE. And PLEASE, when the next sick or injured person is in your care, and things are not going quite like you wish it were, don't quit or "just move on".....fight for that person too, like you always have! NO nurse should receive any less pay, in what ever form that may be, ever. In fact, NO Michigan worker should have to give up their own money, money they worked for and deserve, just because employers have decided to jump on the wagon. New buildings, fancy statues, company cars, trips, trees and ponds and football stadiums. Glass atriums, marble floors, executive offices with leather, oak, and flat screen tv's......and we are expected to accept these claims of poverty? NO WAY! Nurses- Don't give in and don't give up. YOU are what makes UMHS one of the best.
Dave
Wed, Sep 28, 2011 : 6:15 a.m.
A hardline unilateral stance isn't going to bring a desirable result for anyone. Both sides need to make reasonable compromises and reconcile the disparities in the UMHS budget.
citizen79
Wed, Sep 28, 2011 : 3:03 a.m.
The following line from the article, "At the state of the health system address, Pescovitz said changes brought on by health care reform will cost UMHS $100 million over seven years." is the real problem. Health Care Reform (i.e. OBAMACARE) will add cost to hospitals as well as drive up health care insurance rates for employees. This results in a double whammy for the hospitals and their employees. Makes you wonder why the National Nurses United was supporting the passing of the Obamacare plan. If you read some of the articles on their website such as "Heal America, Tax Wall Street" you will understand the political nature of the organization. Not sure how taxing wall street improves patient care and nursing work conditions.
thecompound
Wed, Sep 28, 2011 : 12:44 p.m.
Lots of uncertainty in the future especially with ObamaCare.
Marilyn Wilkie
Wed, Sep 28, 2011 : 2:53 a.m.
The caption under the top photo says this: "Approximately 4,000 nurses are currently working without a contract rather than settle for an agreement that will diminish benefits and increase costs, leading to substantial nurse to patient staffing issues." Is this a fact? Or is this what the nurses think? Or is this what Ms. Keeping thinks? It should be attributed to someone. As I have said before, what makes the nurses so special that they should not pay a greater percentage of their healthcare costs like the rest of the UM employees have to? It looks like they think they are above it all.
beersnob
Sun, Oct 2, 2011 : 12:06 a.m.
Why are we in a race to the bottom? ANYONE can form a union. Maybe all other employees should have stood their ground and not made the concessions
Mr. Ed
Wed, Sep 28, 2011 : 2:53 a.m.
I'm not a nurse nor do I know any nurses. But I can say they deserve the pay and benefits they are fighting for. If you would like to know the pay of hospital executives here is a link. <a href="http://www.umsalary.info" rel='nofollow'>http://www.umsalary.info</a>. Keep fighting
Oregon39_Michigan7
Fri, Sep 30, 2011 : 1:21 a.m.
Important to point out that out of 4,000+ RNs, almost no general funds from the university are used to pay their salaries. (General Funds = Taxpayer Money).
snapshot
Thu, Sep 29, 2011 : 8 p.m.
So these nurses should be working towards becoming hospital administrators to earn more money.
Lady Audrey
Wed, Sep 28, 2011 : 10:21 p.m.
And the head of the nurses, Calarco, makes over $260K. Not bad.
craigjjs
Wed, Sep 28, 2011 : 1:23 p.m.
Thank you Mr. Ed. Seems Ora's salary was $720,000 in 2010-2011 (plus benefits?). Maybe the UMHS is not as broke as some people claim.
snapshot
Wed, Sep 28, 2011 : 2:36 a.m.
These nurses are NOT working without a contract. They are working under the terms of the former contract. If there were no contract I would imagine the hospital could implement the changes and end negotiations, so SOME sort of contract must be in place. For nurses to imply that a contract affects patient safety is fear mongering. Does that mean nurses will intentially mistreat patients out of spite? I hope not. Are nurses less competent without a contract? I hope not. Will nurses leave if the reasonable hospital demands are accepted? I don't think so. The nurses union is being unreasonable.
JLBD4
Wed, Sep 28, 2011 : 2:14 a.m.
Stephen, if you are so fatigued then stop reading these articles. I appreciate annarbor.com covering the event. And to "Basic Bob," some of us are not willing to just lay down and take what is handed to us. Our union is strong and committed to fighting for what we deserve. While some companies need to concede during times of hardships....this is not the case for the hospital. The increase in healthcare they are asking for would take almost my entire first pay check of each month. I would have to work an extra shift each week just to compensate for the increase in health care. I am not willing to just give up, I will fight for what is right. I am sorry for the other divisions of the University that settled for this health care package because they didn't have someone strong enough to fight for them. I enjoy taking care of the patients at the University which have complex medical needs, I do not want to just "move on."
Sam Smith
Thu, Sep 29, 2011 : 12:28 a.m.
If you're paying $780.00 each month for benefits and only working 20 hours a week why in the world would you want to work there? That leaves you with what $20.00? Or is it more than that? I want the nurses to get what they deserve but do you really think you deserve more than anyone else? You are part of a team not the team itself!
Polyjuce123
Wed, Sep 28, 2011 : 2:50 p.m.
Does anyone else find this almost impossible to believe? So if JLBD4 says their contribution would be $780 a month which they claim is almost 2 weeks of pay, then that means they make roughly 40/hr. I have a very hard time believing UMHS would require a employee only working 20 hours a week to contribute $780.
JLBD4
Wed, Sep 28, 2011 : 12:43 p.m.
We get paid every two weeks. My healthcare contribution would be about $780 each month which is almost the equivalent of 2 weeks pay for me (a nurse for 8yrs) working 20 hours/week.
Marilyn Wilkie
Wed, Sep 28, 2011 : 2:58 a.m.
"The increase in healthcare they are asking for would take almost my entire first pay check of each month. " What does this mean? How many paychecks do you receive each month? Are you saying that 25% of each month's pay would go for your health insurance premium? This doesn't make sense. Please explain.
Terri
Wed, Sep 28, 2011 : 1:45 a.m.
Stephen, I am SO SORRY that professionals expecting reasonable compensation for professional services wears you out. Perhaps you should think about how these nurses and their families feel about the shoddy treatment they are getting from management and the very real possibility that their lives may be upended soon. Not to mention the always entertaining and typically uninformed slogging they get in the comments on these articles.
Sam Smith
Thu, Sep 29, 2011 : 3:47 a.m.
How will your life be "upended?" "Uniformed slogging?" Please enlighten us and answer the many questions we, the uniformed, have for you. Not only do some of these posts by some of the nurses toward patients and patients care sound resentful but now you're hostile toward others who don't think the same way you do or have questions like me? Yikes!
Terri
Wed, Sep 28, 2011 : 4:23 p.m.
Marilyn, get this: I'M NOT A NURSE. I just support nurses.
thecompound
Wed, Sep 28, 2011 : 12:41 p.m.
When big donors make huge donations to get their name on a wing or whatever, they don't expect their donations to go to wages. Just like the city, there are buckets, things aren't always as they seem.
AACity12
Wed, Sep 28, 2011 : 11:58 a.m.
So Marilyn because you have had a rough go of it everyone else should to? You should be cheering them on for standing up and demanding what is right. Dave - Don't give me that BS about no funds. The UM has billions to go around. Go look at the hospital and look at all the crains that are building stuff on that campus. They want to build billion dollar buildings but they dont want to pay a fair wage to the staff that works in it.
Dave
Wed, Sep 28, 2011 : 6:09 a.m.
While your expectations for compensation may be reasonable, sooner or later you have to face reality: there aren't enough funds to go around. Push to meet those expectations, but reconcile the desirable outcome with the fact that you have to balance a budget.
Marilyn Wilkie
Wed, Sep 28, 2011 : 3:01 a.m.
Then tell us the truth. What percentage of your health insurance cost would you have to pay? How much money would that amount to? Make us understand the burden you will be under..then a lot of us can tell you how bad it's been for all of us.
Meg
Wed, Sep 28, 2011 : 1:35 a.m.
@Stephen Hankamp: What do you know about nursing care? What, for that matter, does admin know about nursing care? Yet they think they know better than nurses how to value that care. Why shouldn't nurses be able to assess the value of management's contributions?
Polyjuce123
Wed, Sep 28, 2011 : 3:11 p.m.
Why do nurses have to use compensation such as health insurance as an indicator of how well patients will be cared for at UM?
Basic Bob
Wed, Sep 28, 2011 : 1:26 a.m.
Increases to insurance premiums are a pay cut, but they need to look in the mirror to discover the reason this is necessary. I would lock them out if they don't grow up soon.
beersnob
Sun, Oct 2, 2011 : 1:15 a.m.
Lock us out.....right good luck finding 4,000 nurses on a whim! And they would never they would lose too much money
Matt Cooper
Wed, Sep 28, 2011 : 3:07 p.m.
Dave, have you driven through or around the medical campus in the last...say, 10 years? Hundreds of millions of dollars have been spent building the new MedSci building, the new parking structure right next to it, the new theater attached to it, the cardiovascular center, the parking structure attached to it, the new Mott hospital. Now, I'm not an accountant, and I have no idea how they choose to allocate the monies, but it seems to me that you don't pay for all that off the backs of nurses. You don't spend the hundreds of millions and then cry about how broke you are and expect nurses to take a significant pay cut to make up the difference. To simply say 'the money isn't there' and stop there is 1. disingenuous, and 2. flat out wrong. And if the UM executives really want this to be a "shared sacrifice" let them take pay cuts just as they expect nurses to instead of giving themselves raises every year and bonus payouts the likes of which you and i will never, ever see.
Dave
Wed, Sep 28, 2011 : 6:04 a.m.
@MattCooper: No one doubts that nurses work to earn every dollar that they make. The real problem is the UMHS simply can't afford to pay out; the money isn't there. You can cut executive salaries. You can blame it on the health care reform (if you want to.) But in the end, the budget must be balanced.
Matt Cooper
Wed, Sep 28, 2011 : 2:19 a.m.
Right, Bob! Great idea. Until you have to figure out where you're going to come up with over 4,000 qualified nurses to replace them. You think ICU nurses just grow on trees? If that's so, then you wouldn 't mind having a brand new grad with little to no ICU experience taking care of you, right? Or your sick mother? Maybe your dying wife, or child? Hmmm? Or maybe you think that Trauma/Burn nurses just fall out of nursing school classes just as competant as you please. Maybe you might rather enjoy having a T/B nurse right out of school scrubbing and changing your burn dressings, or placing IV lines, or treating your closed head wounds after having no more experience than a few clinicals? You wouldn't mind that, would you, Bob? I wish you could come spend a day job shadowing a nurse (or in my case, an ICU Technician) and see what exactly they do for their patients every day. Maybe then you'd have a clue.
Michigan Man
Wed, Sep 28, 2011 : 12:59 a.m.
Just fatigued by this never ending issue. What do the nurses know about healthcare executive compensation? Did not know this was a subject in nursing school. If the nurses are just that unhappy it is best if they simply move to another work environment where they are more comfortable and find higher value.
beersnob
Sun, Oct 2, 2011 : 12:31 a.m.
Do you just troll waiting to complain about this issue? Do not bother to pay attention if it bothers you
mt
Wed, Sep 28, 2011 : 7:58 p.m.
His politics has everything to do with this. While the Tea Party economic experts will go out their way to protect the wealthy,(like health care/insurance executives) with equal vigor they blame the middle class for making too much money. At the same time they carry a protest sign stating no taxes in one hand, and a don't mess with my medicare in the other. They they complain they are "fatigued". Most be exhausting rooting against your middle class neighbors.
Oregon39_Michigan7
Wed, Sep 28, 2011 : 4:01 p.m.
Dear Stephen, Ora Hirsch Pescovitz, already the highest paid employee in the University, gave herself a $21,000 raise last year. So yes, the Nurses have every right to complain when Ms. Pescovitz loads her bank account up and then asks the Nurses to effectively take a pay cut. Ora Hirsch Pescovitz = Ultimate FAILURE of leadership. She needs to go. <a href="http://www.umsalary.info/peoplesearch.php?LName=Pescovitz&FName=Ora%20H&Year=0&Campus=1#current" rel='nofollow'>http://www.umsalary.info/peoplesearch.php?LName=Pescovitz&FName=Ora%20H&Year=0&Campus=1#current</a>
Marilyn Wilkie
Wed, Sep 28, 2011 : 3:07 a.m.
Mr. Baxtero, taking good care of patients is your job. That is what you signed up to do. That is why you took the job right? The good pay doesn't hurt either. But please don't continually act like no one appreciates you..that just turns folks off. Also, no need to bring up Mr. Hankamp's political views. They have nothing to do with this. It looked like a personal attack to me.
baxtero
Wed, Sep 28, 2011 : 1:52 a.m.
Stephen, Not that I didn't know, but you are quite public about your Tea Party or further right politics. I comment here only to let others know that Stephen has pretty extremist comments about many things in the world we live in. Must be difficult to be so unhappy all the time!! As a nurse of over 30 years and the child of very conservative parents, it was only when they needed nursing care that they understood that, when they were ill in the hospital, nothing was as important as their nursing care. Nurses here at UM and around this country are fighting for our patients every day!! Be well, Mr. Hankamp