800 nurses (2 states) on verge of striking

[Omaha Steve]

Source: ASSOCIATED PRESS

By Samira Jafari

PIKEVILLE -- Union representatives for some 800 nurses in Kentucky and West Virginia say their members will go on strike if the weeks-long negotiations with Appalachian Regional Healthcare fail over their current contract, which expires Sunday.

It would be the second time this year that ARH, the largest health care provider in the region, would have to battle the picket line.

ARH officials said they are preparing to staff additional nurses if the hundreds of union-represented nurses walk off the job Monday.

"It has never been our intention to hurt the community or the patients we serve," said Pat Tanner, lead negotiator for the Kentucky and West Virginia nurses associations. "But these negotiations have been the most extraordinary and unreasonable I have ever engaged in my 30 years of doing this."

Read more: http://www.kentucky.com/454/story/187517.html

[midnight]

1. It is too bad that capitalism doesn't work for nurses. They want

wages that are reflective of their work and experience, they are told to marry wealthy. Well they are told that here in Wisconsin by men running Aurora.

[patsimae]

12. Kick from an RN

[Bluzmann57]

2. See, this is another thing wrong with for profit hospitals.

Nurses are like angels to the sick and infirm, as well as some of us who are healthy (never mind why lol) and they work and work and work and yet the for profit hospitals don't want to pay them what they are worth. Quite frankly, when my mom was recently hospitalized, I'm not sure what we would have done without the wonderful nursing care she recieved.

[Mabus]

3. It isn't easy being a nurse

and they deserve better than they usually get. If they strike, all the power to them.

[uppityperson]

4. k&r for nurses by a nurse

[emilyg]

13. This nurse joins you - K&R

[Bicoastal]

5. Does this apply to naughty nurses as well?

They better get this thing sorted out before October 31st...

[w8liftinglady]

6. I'm a nurse in a "Right-to-work" state..I hope they strike,and win

12 hours on your feet,no food,no drink,no bathroom...an average day for a med/surg nurse here.Dangerous staffing levels,being sent home as soon as census drops,only to be called back when the ER gets busy.No help for lifting or personal care,hence back injuries.Welcome to our world.

[ismnotwasm]

7. Another kick

For nurses by a nurse.

[NC_Nurse]

8. K&R for nurses

from yet another nurse...

[Heddi]

9. Kick by a nurse for the nurses

go!

[gateley]

10. My dad was a doctor and after Mass on Sundays, I'd go with him while he made

his hospital rounds (I sat with the switchboard operator who always had lots of candy).

One of my first memories is when he and I were in an elevator and the doors opened and a nurse joined us. She said hello to my dad and he said "this is my daughter, tell her she should be a nurse when she grows up"

I swear she LUNGED at me and grabbed my wrist and said "Don't do it! You work so hard, nobody appreciates or supports you and they don't pay enough!"

She also told me about the time the nurses were on strike there and my dad took the donuts from the physician's lounge and brought them out to the picketers on the line.

I will HAPPILY K&R this thread. It is so discouraging that it's come to this.

Good Luck All!

[ismnotwasm]

11. The Labor forum?

Don't usually hang out here, maybe I better start. Another kick