Negotiations on hospital jobs begin

Negotiations are underway to save as many as 25 of the 65 jobs being lost at Danbury and New Milford hospitals.

The negotiations involve possible concessions from the two nursing unions being granted to the Western Connecticut Health Network, the umbrella organization that manages the two hospitals.

Hospital spokeswoman Andrea Rynn said the hospital leaders hope to meet with union leaders next week to see what concessions are possible.

Mary Consoli, the president of the union at Danbury Hospital, which represents about 600 members, was unavailable for comment Wednesday.

But Joanne Chapin, president of the New Milford unit, which represents about 125 nurses, said the union wants to see numbers that show how the network plans to save money and jobs.

The hospital has refused to say where the layoffs will occur, except to say that they are system-wide.

On Wednesday, Rynn shot down one rumor -- that the hospital has laid off all the licensed practical nurses at Danbury Hospital.

"That's not true," she said.

Chapin said that under the layoff plan announced by the hospital last week, four registered nurses could be laid off at New Milford Hospital, while another two would have their hours reduced.

The network maintains the layoffs are the result of a $34 million cut in state funding to the network over two years. Overall, the state budget approved by the General Assembly cuts funding to state hospitals by $550 million.

The state has said this is a reduction in its overall support for state hospitals. Last week Ben Barnes, secretary of the state's Office of Policy and Management, said hospitals could cut executive compensation rather than lay off workers.

Dr. John Murphy, the president and chief executive officer of Western Connecticut Health Network, receives $995,838 in pay and benefits.

In making the announcement last week, the hospital said it will not fill 51 open positions.

Rynn said Wednesday the hospital has also saved $4 million and 50 jobs by reducing non-union employees' wages in a variety of ways.

The network is the region's largest employer, with 4,280 staff members at the two hospitals and several affiliated medical offices and organizations.

"People are sad about this, but also understanding," Rynn said. "We've been warning this might happen since last winter."

The wage changes include reductions in differential pay -- the extra pay staff gets for working night shifts, for example. It also involves cutting the premiums workers get for coming in on weekends and holidays, and also reducing overtime pay.

Rynn said the hospital is asking union members to accept the same cuts already imposed on non-union employees.

One change, Chapin said, would involve paying nurses overtime only when they work more than 40 hours in one week. Under the nurses' contract, they now get overtime when they work extra hours on a daily basis.

Chapin said many nurses now work only part time, so it's very difficult for them to work more than 40 hours a week.

She also said issues like the night differential have been issues the union has fought for over the years to boost union members' wages. Union members now earn an extra $2.60 per hour for working night shifts. The hospital wants to reduce that to $2, Chapin said.

"It took us 20 years to get that night differential," Chapin said. For that reason, she said, the union wants proof of how losing part of it will save jobs.

"We're not saying `No,' " she said. "But we're asking for dollar figures.''

bmiller@newstimes.com; 203-731-3345

Source: http://www.newstimes.com/local/article/Negotiations-on-hospital-jobs-begin-4671094.php

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